太陽能(neng)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)分光(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)和光(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)。不(bu)論產(chan)銷量、發(fa)(fa)展速(su)度(du)和發(fa)(fa)展前景、光(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)都(dou)趕不(bu)上光(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)。可能(neng)因光(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)普(pu)及(ji)較(jiao)廣而接觸(chu)光(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)較(jiao)少，通(tong)常(chang)民間所說的太陽能(neng)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)往(wang)往(wang)指的就是太陽能(neng)光(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)，簡稱光(guang)電(dian)(dian)。

       光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)是(shi)根據光(guang)(guang)(guang)生伏(fu)(fu)(fu)特效(xiao)應原理(li),利用太陽能(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)將太陽光(guang)(guang)(guang)能(neng)直(zhi)接轉化為電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)能(neng)。不(bu)論是(shi)獨(du)立使用還是(shi)并網(wang)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)系統(tong)主要由(you)(you)太陽能(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)板（組件）、控制器(qi)和逆變器(qi)三大部分組成(cheng)，它(ta)們主要由(you)(you)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)子(zi)元器(qi)件構成(cheng)，不(bu)涉(she)及機械部件,所以,光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)設備極為精煉,可靠穩定壽命長、安裝維(wei)護簡便。理(li)論上(shang)講,光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)技術可以用于任何需要電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源的(de)場合,上(shang)至(zhi)航天(tian)器(qi),下至(zhi)家(jia)用電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源,大到兆瓦(wa)級(ji)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)站,小到玩(wan)具,光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)(fu)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源無(wu)處(chu)不(bu)在。國產晶體硅電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)效(xiao)率(lv)在10至(zhi)13%左(zuo)右，國外同類(lei)產品效(xiao)率(lv)約12至(zhi)14%。由(you)(you)一個或多個太陽能(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)片組成(cheng)的(de)太陽能(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)板稱為光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)(fu)組件。

       太陽(yang)能(neng)光(guang)伏發電(dian)系統由太陽(yang)能(neng)電(dian)池組、太陽(yang)能(neng)控制器、蓄電(dian)池（組）組成。如輸出電(dian)源為交流220V或110V，還(huan)需要(yao)配置逆變器。各部分的(de)作用為：

      （一(yi)）太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)池板：太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)池板是(shi)太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)發電(dian)系統中的(de)核心部分，也是(shi)太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)發電(dian)系統中價值最高的(de)部分。其作(zuo)用(yong)是(shi)將太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)的(de)輻射能(neng)力(li)轉換為電(dian)能(neng)，或送往(wang)蓄電(dian)池中存(cun)儲起來，或推動負載工作(zuo)。 

      （二）太陽能(neng)(neng)(neng)控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器：太陽能(neng)(neng)(neng)控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器的作(zuo)用是控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)整個系(xi)統的工作(zuo)狀態，并對蓄電(dian)池起到(dao)過(guo)充電(dian)保護、過(guo)放電(dian)保護的作(zuo)用。在溫差較大的地方(fang)，合格的控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器還應(ying)具備溫度補償的功(gong)能(neng)(neng)(neng)。其(qi)他附加功(gong)能(neng)(neng)(neng)如(ru)光控(kong)(kong)開關、時控(kong)(kong)開關都(dou)應(ying)當(dang)是控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器的可選項(xiang)； 

      （三）蓄電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)：一(yi)般為鉛酸電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)，小微型系統中，也可用鎳(nie)氫電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)、鎳(nie)鎘電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)或鋰電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)。其作用是在有(you)光照時將太陽能電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)板(ban)所發出的(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)能儲存(cun)起(qi)來，到需要的(de)(de)時候再釋放出來。 

      （四）逆(ni)變(bian)器：太陽(yang)能的直接輸出(chu)一(yi)般(ban)都是12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為(wei)能向(xiang)220VAC的電(dian)器提(ti)供(gong)電(dian)能，需要將(jiang)太陽(yang)能發電(dian)系統所發出(chu)的直流電(dian)能轉(zhuan)換成(cheng)交(jiao)流電(dian)能，因此需要使用(yong)DC-AC逆(ni)變(bian)器。