太陽能發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)分光(guang)熱(re)(re)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)和光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)。不論產銷量(liang)、發(fa)(fa)(fa)展速(su)度和發(fa)(fa)(fa)展前景、光(guang)熱(re)(re)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)都趕不上光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)。可(ke)能因(yin)光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)普及較廣而接觸光(guang)熱(re)(re)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)較少，通常民間所說的太陽能發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)往(wang)往(wang)指的就(jiu)是太陽能光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)，簡稱(cheng)光(guang)電(dian)(dian)。

       光(guang)伏(fu)(fu)(fu)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)是(shi)根據光(guang)生伏(fu)(fu)(fu)特效應原理,利用(yong)太(tai)陽能(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)將太(tai)陽光(guang)能(neng)直接轉化為(wei)(wei)電(dian)(dian)(dian)能(neng)。不(bu)論是(shi)獨立使(shi)用(yong)還(huan)是(shi)并網發電(dian)(dian)(dian),光(guang)伏(fu)(fu)(fu)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)系統主要由太(tai)陽能(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)板(ban)（組(zu)(zu)件）、控制器(qi)(qi)和逆變器(qi)(qi)三大部分組(zu)(zu)成(cheng)(cheng)，它們主要由電(dian)(dian)(dian)子元器(qi)(qi)件構成(cheng)(cheng)，不(bu)涉及機械部件,所以,光(guang)伏(fu)(fu)(fu)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)設備(bei)極為(wei)(wei)精煉,可(ke)(ke)靠穩定壽(shou)命長、安裝維護簡便(bian)。理論上講(jiang),光(guang)伏(fu)(fu)(fu)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)技術可(ke)(ke)以用(yong)于任何需要電(dian)(dian)(dian)源的場(chang)合(he),上至航天器(qi)(qi),下至家(jia)用(yong)電(dian)(dian)(dian)源,大到兆瓦級電(dian)(dian)(dian)站,小(xiao)到玩具,光(guang)伏(fu)(fu)(fu)電(dian)(dian)(dian)源無處不(bu)在(zai)。國(guo)產晶體硅(gui)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)效率(lv)在(zai)10至13%左右(you)，國(guo)外(wai)同(tong)類產品效率(lv)約12至14%。由一個(ge)或多個(ge)太(tai)陽能(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)片組(zu)(zu)成(cheng)(cheng)的太(tai)陽能(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)板(ban)稱為(wei)(wei)光(guang)伏(fu)(fu)(fu)組(zu)(zu)件。

       太陽能光伏發電系統由太陽能電池組(zu)(zu)、太陽能控(kong)制器、蓄電池（組(zu)(zu)）組(zu)(zu)成。如輸出(chu)電源為交流(liu)220V或110V，還需要配置逆變器。各部分的作用為：

      （一）太(tai)陽能(neng)電(dian)池(chi)板(ban)：太(tai)陽能(neng)電(dian)池(chi)板(ban)是(shi)太(tai)陽能(neng)發(fa)電(dian)系(xi)統中(zhong)的核心部(bu)分，也(ye)是(shi)太(tai)陽能(neng)發(fa)電(dian)系(xi)統中(zhong)價值最(zui)高的部(bu)分。其作用(yong)是(shi)將(jiang)太(tai)陽的輻射能(neng)力(li)轉(zhuan)換為電(dian)能(neng)，或送往(wang)蓄電(dian)池(chi)中(zhong)存儲起來，或推動(dong)負(fu)載工作。 

      （二）太陽能(neng)控制(zhi)器：太陽能(neng)控制(zhi)器的(de)作(zuo)用(yong)是(shi)控制(zhi)整個系統的(de)工作(zuo)狀(zhuang)態(tai)，并對蓄電(dian)池起(qi)到(dao)過(guo)充電(dian)保護(hu)、過(guo)放電(dian)保護(hu)的(de)作(zuo)用(yong)。在溫差(cha)較大的(de)地方，合格的(de)控制(zhi)器還(huan)應具備溫度補償的(de)功(gong)(gong)能(neng)。其(qi)他附加(jia)功(gong)(gong)能(neng)如光控開(kai)(kai)關、時控開(kai)(kai)關都應當是(shi)控制(zhi)器的(de)可選項； 

      （三）蓄(xu)電(dian)池(chi)：一般為鉛酸電(dian)池(chi)，小微型系統中，也可用(yong)鎳氫電(dian)池(chi)、鎳鎘電(dian)池(chi)或鋰電(dian)池(chi)。其作用(yong)是在有光照(zhao)時將太(tai)陽能電(dian)池(chi)板所發出的電(dian)能儲存起(qi)來，到需要的時候再釋(shi)放出來。 

      （四）逆變(bian)器(qi)：太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)的直接輸出一般都是12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為(wei)能(neng)向(xiang)220VAC的電(dian)器(qi)提供電(dian)能(neng)，需要將太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)發(fa)電(dian)系統所發(fa)出的直流電(dian)能(neng)轉換成交流電(dian)能(neng)，因此需要使用DC-AC逆變(bian)器(qi)。