太(tai)陽能(neng)發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)電分(fen)光(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)電和光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)電。不(bu)論產銷量(liang)、發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)展速(su)度(du)和發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)展前(qian)景(jing)、光(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)電都趕不(bu)上光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)電。可能(neng)因光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)電普及較廣而(er)接觸光(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)電較少，通(tong)常民間所說的(de)太(tai)陽能(neng)發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)電往往指的(de)就是太(tai)陽能(neng)光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)電，簡稱(cheng)光(guang)電。

       光(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)是(shi)根(gen)據光(guang)生伏特(te)效應原理(li),利用(yong)太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)將太陽(yang)光(guang)能(neng)(neng)直接轉化(hua)為(wei)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)。不(bu)論是(shi)獨立使用(yong)還是(shi)并網(wang)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),光(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)系(xi)統主要由太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)板(ban)（組(zu)(zu)件）、控制(zhi)器和逆(ni)變器三大(da)部分(fen)組(zu)(zu)成(cheng)，它們主要由電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)子元器件構成(cheng)，不(bu)涉及機(ji)械部件,所以,光(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)設備極為(wei)精煉(lian),可(ke)靠穩(wen)定壽命(ming)長、安裝維(wei)護簡(jian)便。理(li)論上(shang)講,光(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)技(ji)術(shu)可(ke)以用(yong)于(yu)任何(he)需要電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源(yuan)的(de)場合,上(shang)至航(hang)天(tian)器,下(xia)至家用(yong)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源(yuan),大(da)到兆瓦級(ji)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)站,小到玩具,光(guang)伏電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源(yuan)無處不(bu)在。國(guo)產晶(jing)體硅電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)效率在10至13%左右，國(guo)外同類產品效率約(yue)12至14%。由一個(ge)或多個(ge)太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)片組(zu)(zu)成(cheng)的(de)太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)板(ban)稱為(wei)光(guang)伏組(zu)(zu)件。

       太陽(yang)能光伏發電(dian)系統(tong)由太陽(yang)能電(dian)池組、太陽(yang)能控制器、蓄電(dian)池（組）組成。如輸出(chu)電(dian)源為交流220V或110V，還需要配置逆變器。各部分的作用(yong)為：

      （一）太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)池板(ban)：太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)池板(ban)是太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)系統中(zhong)的核心部分，也是太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)系統中(zhong)價值最高的部分。其作用(yong)是將太陽(yang)的輻(fu)射能(neng)(neng)(neng)力轉(zhuan)換為電(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)(neng)，或(huo)送往(wang)蓄電(dian)(dian)池中(zhong)存儲起來，或(huo)推(tui)動負(fu)載工作。 

      （二）太(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)(neng)控制器(qi)：太(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)(neng)控制器(qi)的(de)作(zuo)(zuo)用是控制整個系統(tong)的(de)工作(zuo)(zuo)狀態，并對蓄電(dian)池(chi)起到過充電(dian)保護、過放(fang)電(dian)保護的(de)作(zuo)(zuo)用。在(zai)溫(wen)差較(jiao)大(da)的(de)地方(fang)，合格的(de)控制器(qi)還應具備溫(wen)度補償的(de)功(gong)(gong)能(neng)(neng)(neng)。其他附加功(gong)(gong)能(neng)(neng)(neng)如光控開(kai)關(guan)、時(shi)控開(kai)關(guan)都(dou)應當是控制器(qi)的(de)可選項； 

      （三）蓄電(dian)池：一般為(wei)鉛酸(suan)電(dian)池，小微型系統(tong)中，也(ye)可用鎳氫電(dian)池、鎳鎘電(dian)池或鋰(li)電(dian)池。其作用是在有光照時(shi)將太陽能電(dian)池板所發出的電(dian)能儲存起(qi)來，到需要的時(shi)候再釋放出來。 

      （四）逆變器(qi)：太陽能的直(zhi)(zhi)接輸(shu)出(chu)(chu)一般都是12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為能向220VAC的電器(qi)提供電能，需要將(jiang)太陽能發(fa)電系統所發(fa)出(chu)(chu)的直(zhi)(zhi)流(liu)(liu)電能轉換(huan)成(cheng)交流(liu)(liu)電能，因此需要使用DC-AC逆變器(qi)。