太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)發(fa)電分光(guang)(guang)熱發(fa)電和光(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)電。不(bu)論產(chan)銷量、發(fa)展(zhan)速度(du)和發(fa)展(zhan)前景、光(guang)(guang)熱發(fa)電都趕不(bu)上光(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)電。可能(neng)因光(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)電普及較(jiao)廣(guang)而(er)接觸光(guang)(guang)熱發(fa)電較(jiao)少，通(tong)常民間所說的太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)發(fa)電往往指的就是太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)光(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)電，簡稱(cheng)光(guang)(guang)電。

       光(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)是根據光(guang)生伏(fu)(fu)特效(xiao)應原理,利(li)用(yong)太陽(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池將太陽(yang)光(guang)能(neng)直接(jie)轉化為電(dian)(dian)(dian)能(neng)。不論是獨立使用(yong)還是并網(wang)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian),光(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)系統(tong)主要由太陽(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池板（組件(jian)）、控制器和逆變器三大(da)部分(fen)組成(cheng)，它(ta)們主要由電(dian)(dian)(dian)子元器件(jian)構成(cheng)，不涉及機械部件(jian),所以(yi),光(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)設備(bei)極(ji)為精煉,可(ke)靠穩定壽命長、安裝維(wei)護簡便。理論上講,光(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)技術(shu)可(ke)以(yi)用(yong)于任何需要電(dian)(dian)(dian)源的場合(he),上至(zhi)航天器,下(xia)至(zhi)家用(yong)電(dian)(dian)(dian)源,大(da)到(dao)兆瓦級電(dian)(dian)(dian)站,小到(dao)玩具,光(guang)伏(fu)(fu)電(dian)(dian)(dian)源無處(chu)不在(zai)。國產晶體硅電(dian)(dian)(dian)池效(xiao)率(lv)在(zai)10至(zhi)13%左右，國外同類產品效(xiao)率(lv)約12至(zhi)14%。由一個(ge)或多個(ge)太陽(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池片(pian)組成(cheng)的太陽(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池板稱為光(guang)伏(fu)(fu)組件(jian)。

       太陽(yang)能光伏發(fa)電系統由太陽(yang)能電池組、太陽(yang)能控制(zhi)器(qi)、蓄電池（組）組成。如輸出電源(yuan)為交(jiao)流(liu)220V或(huo)110V，還(huan)需要配(pei)置逆變器(qi)。各部(bu)分的作用為：

      （一）太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)電池板(ban)：太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)電池板(ban)是(shi)(shi)太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)發電系統中(zhong)(zhong)的(de)核(he)心部分，也是(shi)(shi)太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)發電系統中(zhong)(zhong)價值最高的(de)部分。其作用是(shi)(shi)將太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)的(de)輻(fu)射能(neng)力轉換為電能(neng)，或送往蓄電池中(zhong)(zhong)存儲起來，或推動負載(zai)工作。 

      （二）太(tai)陽能(neng)控(kong)(kong)制器(qi)(qi)：太(tai)陽能(neng)控(kong)(kong)制器(qi)(qi)的作用(yong)(yong)是控(kong)(kong)制整(zheng)個系統(tong)的工作狀態(tai)，并對(dui)蓄電(dian)池起到(dao)過充電(dian)保護(hu)、過放電(dian)保護(hu)的作用(yong)(yong)。在溫差較大的地方，合格的控(kong)(kong)制器(qi)(qi)還應具備溫度補償的功能(neng)。其他附加功能(neng)如光(guang)控(kong)(kong)開關、時控(kong)(kong)開關都應當是控(kong)(kong)制器(qi)(qi)的可選項； 

      （三(san)）蓄(xu)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)：一般為(wei)鉛酸電(dian)(dian)池(chi)，小微型(xing)系統中，也可用鎳(nie)(nie)氫(qing)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)、鎳(nie)(nie)鎘電(dian)(dian)池(chi)或(huo)鋰電(dian)(dian)池(chi)。其作用是在有光照時(shi)將太陽能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)板所發出(chu)的(de)電(dian)(dian)能(neng)儲存(cun)起來，到需要的(de)時(shi)候(hou)再(zai)釋放出(chu)來。 

      （四）逆變(bian)器(qi)：太陽能(neng)的(de)直接輸出(chu)一般(ban)都是12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為(wei)能(neng)向220VAC的(de)電(dian)器(qi)提(ti)供電(dian)能(neng)，需要(yao)將太陽能(neng)發電(dian)系統所發出(chu)的(de)直流電(dian)能(neng)轉換成交流電(dian)能(neng)，因此需要(yao)使用DC-AC逆變(bian)器(qi)。