太(tai)陽(yang)能發(fa)電(dian)(dian)分光(guang)(guang)熱發(fa)電(dian)(dian)和光(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)(dian)。不(bu)論(lun)產銷量、發(fa)展速度和發(fa)展前景、光(guang)(guang)熱發(fa)電(dian)(dian)都趕不(bu)上光(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)(dian)。可能因(yin)光(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)(dian)普及較廣而接觸光(guang)(guang)熱發(fa)電(dian)(dian)較少，通常民(min)間所(suo)說的太(tai)陽(yang)能發(fa)電(dian)(dian)往往指的就是太(tai)陽(yang)能光(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)(dian)，簡稱光(guang)(guang)電(dian)(dian)。

       光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)是(shi)(shi)根據光(guang)(guang)(guang)生伏(fu)特效應原理,利用(yong)太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)將太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)光(guang)(guang)(guang)能(neng)直接(jie)轉化(hua)為電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)能(neng)。不(bu)論(lun)(lun)是(shi)(shi)獨立使用(yong)還是(shi)(shi)并網(wang)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)系統(tong)主要由(you)(you)太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)板（組件(jian)）、控制器和(he)逆變器三大部分組成，它(ta)們主要由(you)(you)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)子元(yuan)器件(jian)構成，不(bu)涉及機械部件(jian),所以(yi),光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)設備極為精煉,可(ke)靠穩定壽(shou)命長、安裝(zhuang)維護簡便。理論(lun)(lun)上(shang)講(jiang),光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)技術可(ke)以(yi)用(yong)于任何(he)需要電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源的場合(he),上(shang)至(zhi)航天器,下至(zhi)家用(yong)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源,大到(dao)兆(zhao)瓦級電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)站,小(xiao)到(dao)玩具(ju),光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源無處不(bu)在(zai)。國產晶體硅電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)效率在(zai)10至(zhi)13%左右，國外同類產品效率約12至(zhi)14%。由(you)(you)一(yi)個或多個太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)片(pian)組成的太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)板稱為光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)組件(jian)。

       太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)光伏發(fa)電系統由太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電池組、太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)控制器(qi)、蓄電池（組）組成。如輸出(chu)電源為交流220V或(huo)110V，還需要配置逆變器(qi)。各部分(fen)的(de)作用為：

      （一）太(tai)陽能(neng)電(dian)池板(ban)：太(tai)陽能(neng)電(dian)池板(ban)是(shi)太(tai)陽能(neng)發電(dian)系統中(zhong)的(de)核心部分，也是(shi)太(tai)陽能(neng)發電(dian)系統中(zhong)價值最高的(de)部分。其作用(yong)是(shi)將太(tai)陽的(de)輻射能(neng)力轉換為電(dian)能(neng)，或送往蓄電(dian)池中(zhong)存儲起來，或推動(dong)負載工作。 

      （二）太陽能(neng)(neng)控(kong)制器(qi)(qi)：太陽能(neng)(neng)控(kong)制器(qi)(qi)的(de)作(zuo)用(yong)是控(kong)制整個系統的(de)工作(zuo)狀態(tai)，并(bing)對蓄電池起到過(guo)充電保護、過(guo)放電保護的(de)作(zuo)用(yong)。在溫差較大的(de)地方，合格(ge)的(de)控(kong)制器(qi)(qi)還應(ying)具(ju)備溫度(du)補償(chang)的(de)功能(neng)(neng)。其他(ta)附加功能(neng)(neng)如(ru)光控(kong)開關、時控(kong)開關都應(ying)當是控(kong)制器(qi)(qi)的(de)可選(xuan)項(xiang)； 

      （三(san)）蓄(xu)電(dian)池：一般(ban)為鉛(qian)酸電(dian)池，小微型系統(tong)中(zhong)，也(ye)可(ke)用鎳氫電(dian)池、鎳鎘電(dian)池或鋰電(dian)池。其作用是(shi)在有(you)光(guang)照時將太陽能電(dian)池板(ban)所發(fa)出(chu)的電(dian)能儲存起來，到需要(yao)的時候(hou)再釋(shi)放(fang)出(chu)來。 

      （四(si)）逆(ni)變(bian)器(qi)(qi)：太(tai)陽能(neng)的(de)直接輸出(chu)(chu)一般都是12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為能(neng)向220VAC的(de)電(dian)器(qi)(qi)提供電(dian)能(neng)，需(xu)要(yao)將太(tai)陽能(neng)發電(dian)系統所發出(chu)(chu)的(de)直流(liu)電(dian)能(neng)轉換(huan)成交流(liu)電(dian)能(neng)，因此需(xu)要(yao)使用DC-AC逆(ni)變(bian)器(qi)(qi)。