太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)分光熱(re)(re)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)和光伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)。不論產銷量、發(fa)(fa)(fa)展速度和發(fa)(fa)(fa)展前(qian)景、光熱(re)(re)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)都趕(gan)不上(shang)光伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)。可能(neng)(neng)因光伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)普及較(jiao)廣(guang)而接觸光熱(re)(re)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)較(jiao)少(shao)，通常(chang)民(min)間所說的(de)太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)往往指(zhi)的(de)就是太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)光伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)，簡稱光電(dian)(dian)。

       光(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)是(shi)根(gen)據光(guang)生伏特效(xiao)應原理,利用太(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)將(jiang)太(tai)陽光(guang)能(neng)(neng)直接轉化為電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)。不(bu)論是(shi)獨(du)立使用還是(shi)并(bing)網(wang)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),光(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)系(xi)統主要(yao)由太(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)板(ban)（組(zu)(zu)件(jian)）、控制器(qi)和逆變器(qi)三大部分組(zu)(zu)成，它們主要(yao)由電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)子(zi)元器(qi)件(jian)構成，不(bu)涉(she)及(ji)機械部件(jian),所(suo)以(yi),光(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)設備極為精煉,可(ke)靠(kao)穩定壽命長(chang)、安(an)裝維護(hu)簡便。理論上講,光(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)技術(shu)可(ke)以(yi)用于任何需要(yao)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源的(de)場合,上至(zhi)(zhi)航天器(qi),下至(zhi)(zhi)家(jia)用電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源,大到兆(zhao)瓦級(ji)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)站,小到玩具,光(guang)伏電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源無處不(bu)在。國(guo)產晶體(ti)硅電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)效(xiao)率(lv)在10至(zhi)(zhi)13%左右(you)，國(guo)外同(tong)類產品效(xiao)率(lv)約12至(zhi)(zhi)14%。由一(yi)個或多個太(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)片組(zu)(zu)成的(de)太(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)板(ban)稱為光(guang)伏組(zu)(zu)件(jian)。

       太(tai)陽能(neng)光(guang)伏發電系統由(you)太(tai)陽能(neng)電池組、太(tai)陽能(neng)控(kong)制(zhi)器(qi)、蓄電池（組）組成(cheng)。如輸出電源為(wei)交流(liu)220V或(huo)110V，還需要配置逆變器(qi)。各部(bu)分的作(zuo)用為(wei)：

      （一）太陽(yang)能電(dian)池板：太陽(yang)能電(dian)池板是(shi)太陽(yang)能發(fa)電(dian)系(xi)統中(zhong)的核(he)心部分，也(ye)是(shi)太陽(yang)能發(fa)電(dian)系(xi)統中(zhong)價值最高的部分。其作用是(shi)將太陽(yang)的輻(fu)射能力(li)轉換為電(dian)能，或送(song)往蓄電(dian)池中(zhong)存儲起來，或推動負載工作。 

      （二）太(tai)陽能控制(zhi)器(qi)：太(tai)陽能控制(zhi)器(qi)的(de)(de)作(zuo)(zuo)用(yong)是控制(zhi)整個系統(tong)的(de)(de)工作(zuo)(zuo)狀態(tai)，并對蓄電(dian)池(chi)起(qi)到過充電(dian)保(bao)護(hu)、過放電(dian)保(bao)護(hu)的(de)(de)作(zuo)(zuo)用(yong)。在溫差較大的(de)(de)地方，合格(ge)的(de)(de)控制(zhi)器(qi)還應具(ju)備溫度補償的(de)(de)功(gong)(gong)能。其他(ta)附加功(gong)(gong)能如光(guang)控開關(guan)、時控開關(guan)都應當是控制(zhi)器(qi)的(de)(de)可選項； 

      （三(san)）蓄電(dian)(dian)池(chi)：一(yi)般(ban)為鉛酸電(dian)(dian)池(chi)，小微(wei)型系統中，也(ye)可用(yong)鎳氫電(dian)(dian)池(chi)、鎳鎘(ge)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)或(huo)鋰(li)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)。其作用(yong)是(shi)在有光照時將太(tai)陽能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)板所發(fa)出的電(dian)(dian)能(neng)儲存(cun)起來(lai)，到需要的時候再(zai)釋(shi)放出來(lai)。 

      （四）逆(ni)變器：太陽能(neng)(neng)的直接輸出一般都(dou)是12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為能(neng)(neng)向220VAC的電(dian)(dian)器提供電(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)，需要(yao)將太陽能(neng)(neng)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)系統(tong)所發(fa)(fa)出的直流電(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)轉換成交流電(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)，因此需要(yao)使用DC-AC逆(ni)變器。