太(tai)陽能(neng)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)分光(guang)熱(re)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)和(he)光(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)。不論產(chan)銷量、發(fa)展速度(du)和(he)發(fa)展前景(jing)、光(guang)熱(re)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)都(dou)趕不上(shang)光(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)。可能(neng)因光(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)普及較(jiao)廣而接觸光(guang)熱(re)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)較(jiao)少，通常民(min)間所說的太(tai)陽能(neng)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)往往指的就是太(tai)陽能(neng)光(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)，簡稱光(guang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)。

       光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)是(shi)根據光(guang)生伏(fu)特效(xiao)(xiao)應原理,利用(yong)太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池將(jiang)太(tai)陽(yang)光(guang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)(neng)直接轉(zhuan)化為電(dian)(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)(neng)(neng)。不(bu)論是(shi)獨立使用(yong)還是(shi)并網發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian),光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)系統(tong)主要由太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池板(ban)（組件(jian)(jian)）、控制器(qi)和逆變器(qi)三大部(bu)分組成(cheng)，它們主要由電(dian)(dian)(dian)子(zi)元器(qi)件(jian)(jian)構成(cheng)，不(bu)涉及機械部(bu)件(jian)(jian),所以(yi),光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)設備極為精煉(lian),可靠穩定壽命長(chang)、安裝維護簡便。理論上講(jiang),光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)技術(shu)可以(yi)用(yong)于任何需(xu)要電(dian)(dian)(dian)源(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)的場合,上至(zhi)航天器(qi),下至(zhi)家用(yong)電(dian)(dian)(dian)源(yuan)(yuan)(yuan),大到(dao)兆瓦級電(dian)(dian)(dian)站,小到(dao)玩具,光(guang)伏(fu)電(dian)(dian)(dian)源(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)無處不(bu)在。國(guo)產晶體硅電(dian)(dian)(dian)池效(xiao)(xiao)率在10至(zhi)13%左(zuo)右，國(guo)外同類產品(pin)效(xiao)(xiao)率約12至(zhi)14%。由一個或多個太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池片組成(cheng)的太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池板(ban)稱為光(guang)伏(fu)組件(jian)(jian)。

       太陽(yang)能光伏發電系統(tong)由太陽(yang)能電池(chi)組、太陽(yang)能控(kong)制(zhi)器(qi)、蓄電池(chi)（組）組成。如輸出(chu)電源(yuan)為(wei)交流220V或110V，還(huan)需要配置逆變器(qi)。各部分的作用(yong)為(wei)：

      （一(yi)）太(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)池板：太(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)池板是太(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)發電(dian)(dian)系統中的核心部分，也是太(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)發電(dian)(dian)系統中價值最高的部分。其作用是將太(tai)(tai)陽的輻射能(neng)(neng)力轉換為電(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)，或送往蓄電(dian)(dian)池中存儲(chu)起來，或推動負載工作。 

      （二）太(tai)陽能控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)器(qi)：太(tai)陽能控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)器(qi)的(de)作(zuo)用是控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)整個(ge)系統(tong)的(de)工作(zuo)狀態，并對蓄(xu)電池起到(dao)過充電保護、過放電保護的(de)作(zuo)用。在溫差(cha)較大的(de)地方，合格的(de)控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)器(qi)還(huan)應(ying)具備溫度補償的(de)功能。其他附加功能如光(guang)控(kong)(kong)開關、時控(kong)(kong)開關都應(ying)當是控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)器(qi)的(de)可選項； 

      （三(san)）蓄(xu)電池(chi)：一般為鉛(qian)酸電池(chi)，小微型(xing)系統中(zhong)，也可用(yong)鎳氫電池(chi)、鎳鎘電池(chi)或鋰電池(chi)。其作用(yong)是在有光照時將太(tai)陽能電池(chi)板所(suo)發出(chu)的電能儲存起來，到(dao)需要的時候再釋(shi)放出(chu)來。 

      （四）逆變(bian)(bian)器(qi)：太陽能的直接輸出一般都是12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為能向220VAC的電器(qi)提供電能，需要將(jiang)太陽能發電系統(tong)所發出的直流(liu)電能轉換成交流(liu)電能，因此(ci)需要使(shi)用DC-AC逆變(bian)(bian)器(qi)。