太(tai)陽能發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)分光(guang)熱發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)和光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)。不(bu)論產銷量、發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)展(zhan)速度和發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)展(zhan)前景、光(guang)熱發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)都趕不(bu)上光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)。可能因光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)普及較(jiao)廣(guang)而接觸光(guang)熱發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)較(jiao)少(shao)，通常(chang)民間所說的太(tai)陽能發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)往(wang)往(wang)指(zhi)的就是(shi)太(tai)陽能光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)，簡(jian)稱(cheng)光(guang)電(dian)(dian)。

       光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)是根據光(guang)(guang)生伏(fu)特效應原(yuan)理,利用(yong)(yong)太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)將太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)光(guang)(guang)能(neng)(neng)直接轉化為電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)。不(bu)(bu)論(lun)是獨立(li)使用(yong)(yong)還是并網發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)系(xi)統主要(yao)由太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)板(ban)(ban)（組(zu)件(jian)）、控制器(qi)和逆變(bian)器(qi)三(san)大部分組(zu)成，它們主要(yao)由電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)子元器(qi)件(jian)構成，不(bu)(bu)涉及機械部件(jian),所以,光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)設備極為精煉,可靠穩定壽(shou)命長、安裝維(wei)護(hu)簡便(bian)。理論(lun)上(shang)講,光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)技術(shu)可以用(yong)(yong)于任(ren)何需(xu)要(yao)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源(yuan)的(de)場合,上(shang)至(zhi)(zhi)航天器(qi),下至(zhi)(zhi)家用(yong)(yong)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源(yuan),大到(dao)兆瓦級電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)站(zhan),小到(dao)玩具,光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源(yuan)無處不(bu)(bu)在。國產晶體硅電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)效率(lv)在10至(zhi)(zhi)13%左右，國外(wai)同類產品(pin)效率(lv)約12至(zhi)(zhi)14%。由一個或多個太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)片(pian)組(zu)成的(de)太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)板(ban)(ban)稱為光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)組(zu)件(jian)。

       太陽能(neng)光伏發電系統由太陽能(neng)電池組、太陽能(neng)控制器、蓄電池（組）組成。如(ru)輸出電源為(wei)交流220V或110V，還需(xu)要配置(zhi)逆變器。各(ge)部分的作用為(wei)：

      （一）太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)板：太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)板是(shi)太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)系統(tong)中的核心部(bu)分(fen)，也是(shi)太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)系統(tong)中價值最高的部(bu)分(fen)。其作用(yong)是(shi)將太陽(yang)的輻射能(neng)(neng)力(li)轉換為電(dian)(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)，或(huo)送往蓄電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)中存儲起來，或(huo)推動(dong)負(fu)載(zai)工作。 

      （二）太陽能控(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器：太陽能控(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器的(de)(de)作用是控(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)整個系(xi)統的(de)(de)工作狀態，并對蓄電池起到過充電保護(hu)、過放(fang)電保護(hu)的(de)(de)作用。在溫差較(jiao)大的(de)(de)地方，合格的(de)(de)控(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器還應具備溫度補(bu)償的(de)(de)功能。其(qi)他附加功能如光(guang)控(kong)開關(guan)、時(shi)控(kong)開關(guan)都應當(dang)是控(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器的(de)(de)可選項(xiang)； 

      （三(san)）蓄電(dian)池(chi)：一般為鉛酸電(dian)池(chi)，小微(wei)型(xing)系統中，也(ye)可(ke)用(yong)鎳氫(qing)電(dian)池(chi)、鎳鎘電(dian)池(chi)或鋰電(dian)池(chi)。其作用(yong)是(shi)在有光照時將(jiang)太陽能(neng)電(dian)池(chi)板所發出的(de)電(dian)能(neng)儲存起來(lai)(lai)，到需(xu)要的(de)時候再釋放出來(lai)(lai)。 

      （四）逆變(bian)器：太陽(yang)能(neng)的(de)直接輸出一(yi)般都是12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為(wei)能(neng)向220VAC的(de)電(dian)器提供電(dian)能(neng)，需要將太陽(yang)能(neng)發電(dian)系統所(suo)發出的(de)直流(liu)電(dian)能(neng)轉換成交流(liu)電(dian)能(neng)，因(yin)此(ci)需要使用DC-AC逆變(bian)器。