太(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)發電(dian)分光(guang)熱(re)(re)發電(dian)和光(guang)伏(fu)發電(dian)。不論產銷量、發展速(su)度和發展前(qian)景、光(guang)熱(re)(re)發電(dian)都趕不上光(guang)伏(fu)發電(dian)。可能(neng)因光(guang)伏(fu)發電(dian)普及(ji)較廣而接觸光(guang)熱(re)(re)發電(dian)較少，通常民(min)間所說的(de)太(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)發電(dian)往往指的(de)就是(shi)太(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)光(guang)伏(fu)發電(dian)，簡稱(cheng)光(guang)電(dian)。

       光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)是根據光(guang)生伏(fu)特效應(ying)原(yuan)理,利用太(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池將太(tai)(tai)陽光(guang)能(neng)(neng)直接轉化為(wei)電(dian)(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)。不論(lun)是獨立使用還是并網發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian),光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)系(xi)統主要(yao)(yao)由太(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池板（組件）、控(kong)制(zhi)器(qi)和逆變器(qi)三(san)大(da)部(bu)分組成，它們(men)主要(yao)(yao)由電(dian)(dian)(dian)子元器(qi)件構成，不涉(she)及機械部(bu)件,所以,光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)設(she)備(bei)極為(wei)精煉,可靠穩定壽命長、安裝維護(hu)簡便。理論(lun)上(shang)講,光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)技術可以用于任何需要(yao)(yao)電(dian)(dian)(dian)源(yuan)的(de)場合,上(shang)至航天器(qi),下至家用電(dian)(dian)(dian)源(yuan),大(da)到兆瓦級電(dian)(dian)(dian)站,小到玩具,光(guang)伏(fu)電(dian)(dian)(dian)源(yuan)無處(chu)不在。國產晶體(ti)硅電(dian)(dian)(dian)池效率在10至13%左右，國外(wai)同(tong)類產品效率約12至14%。由一個(ge)或多個(ge)太(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池片組成的(de)太(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池板稱為(wei)光(guang)伏(fu)組件。

       太陽(yang)能光(guang)伏(fu)發電系(xi)統由(you)太陽(yang)能電池組、太陽(yang)能控制器(qi)、蓄(xu)電池（組）組成。如輸出電源為交流220V或110V，還需要(yao)配置逆變器(qi)。各部(bu)分的作用為：

      （一(yi)）太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)池板：太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)池板是(shi)太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)(yang)能(neng)(neng)發電(dian)系統中(zhong)的核心(xin)部(bu)分(fen)，也(ye)是(shi)太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)(yang)能(neng)(neng)發電(dian)系統中(zhong)價值最(zui)高的部(bu)分(fen)。其作用是(shi)將太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)(yang)的輻(fu)射能(neng)(neng)力轉換為電(dian)能(neng)(neng)，或(huo)(huo)送(song)往蓄電(dian)池中(zhong)存儲起(qi)來(lai)，或(huo)(huo)推動負載工(gong)作。 

      （二）太陽(yang)能(neng)控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)器(qi)(qi)：太陽(yang)能(neng)控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)器(qi)(qi)的(de)作(zuo)用是控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)整個(ge)系統的(de)工作(zuo)狀態，并對蓄電(dian)池起到過(guo)(guo)充電(dian)保(bao)護(hu)、過(guo)(guo)放電(dian)保(bao)護(hu)的(de)作(zuo)用。在溫(wen)差較(jiao)大的(de)地方(fang)，合格的(de)控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)器(qi)(qi)還應(ying)具備溫(wen)度(du)補償的(de)功(gong)能(neng)。其他(ta)附加功(gong)能(neng)如光控(kong)(kong)開(kai)(kai)關、時控(kong)(kong)開(kai)(kai)關都應(ying)當(dang)是控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)器(qi)(qi)的(de)可選項； 

      （三）蓄電(dian)(dian)池(chi)：一般為鉛酸電(dian)(dian)池(chi)，小微型系統(tong)中，也可用鎳氫(qing)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)、鎳鎘(ge)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)或鋰電(dian)(dian)池(chi)。其作用是(shi)在有光(guang)照時將太陽能電(dian)(dian)池(chi)板所發出(chu)的電(dian)(dian)能儲存起來，到需要的時候(hou)再釋放出(chu)來。 

      （四）逆變器：太陽能(neng)的直接輸出一般都(dou)是12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為能(neng)向220VAC的電(dian)(dian)器提供電(dian)(dian)能(neng)，需(xu)要(yao)將太陽能(neng)發電(dian)(dian)系統所發出的直流電(dian)(dian)能(neng)轉換成交流電(dian)(dian)能(neng)，因此需(xu)要(yao)使用DC-AC逆變器。