太陽(yang)(yang)能發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)分光(guang)(guang)(guang)熱發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)和光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)。不論產銷量、發(fa)(fa)(fa)展速度和發(fa)(fa)(fa)展前景、光(guang)(guang)(guang)熱發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)都(dou)趕不上光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)。可能因(yin)光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)普及較(jiao)廣(guang)而(er)接觸光(guang)(guang)(guang)熱發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)較(jiao)少，通常(chang)民間所(suo)說的(de)太陽(yang)(yang)能發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)往往指的(de)就是(shi)太陽(yang)(yang)能光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)，簡稱光(guang)(guang)(guang)電(dian)。

       光伏(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)是(shi)根據光生伏(fu)特(te)效應(ying)原理(li),利用(yong)太(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)將太(tai)(tai)陽光能(neng)(neng)直接轉(zhuan)化(hua)為(wei)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)。不(bu)論是(shi)獨立使用(yong)還(huan)是(shi)并網(wang)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),光伏(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)系統主(zhu)要由太(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)板(ban)（組件）、控制器和逆(ni)變器三(san)大部分(fen)組成，它們(men)主(zhu)要由電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)子元器件構成，不(bu)涉及機(ji)械部件,所以,光伏(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)設備極為(wei)精煉(lian),可靠(kao)穩定壽命長、安裝維護簡便。理(li)論上講,光伏(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)技術可以用(yong)于任(ren)何(he)需要電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源(yuan)(yuan)的場合,上至航天器,下至家用(yong)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源(yuan)(yuan),大到兆瓦級電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)站(zhan),小到玩具,光伏(fu)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源(yuan)(yuan)無處不(bu)在(zai)。國產(chan)晶體(ti)硅電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)效率在(zai)10至13%左(zuo)右，國外同(tong)類產(chan)品效率約12至14%。由一個(ge)或多(duo)個(ge)太(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)片組成的太(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)板(ban)稱為(wei)光伏(fu)組件。

       太陽(yang)能(neng)光伏發電(dian)系統由(you)太陽(yang)能(neng)電(dian)池(chi)組、太陽(yang)能(neng)控制器、蓄電(dian)池(chi)（組）組成。如輸(shu)出電(dian)源為交(jiao)流220V或110V，還(huan)需要配置(zhi)逆變器。各部分的作用為：

      （一）太(tai)(tai)陽能電池(chi)板：太(tai)(tai)陽能電池(chi)板是太(tai)(tai)陽能發電系統中的核心部分(fen)，也是太(tai)(tai)陽能發電系統中價值最高的部分(fen)。其作用是將太(tai)(tai)陽的輻射能力轉換為電能，或送往蓄電池(chi)中存儲(chu)起來，或推動負載工作。 

      （二）太陽(yang)能控制(zhi)(zhi)器：太陽(yang)能控制(zhi)(zhi)器的(de)(de)作(zuo)用是控制(zhi)(zhi)整個系統(tong)的(de)(de)工作(zuo)狀態，并對蓄電池起(qi)到過充電保護、過放電保護的(de)(de)作(zuo)用。在溫差較大的(de)(de)地方，合格的(de)(de)控制(zhi)(zhi)器還應具備溫度補償的(de)(de)功(gong)能。其(qi)他(ta)附加功(gong)能如光控開關、時(shi)控開關都應當是控制(zhi)(zhi)器的(de)(de)可選項； 

      （三）蓄電(dian)池(chi)(chi)：一般為鉛(qian)酸(suan)電(dian)池(chi)(chi)，小微型系統中，也可用(yong)鎳(nie)氫電(dian)池(chi)(chi)、鎳(nie)鎘電(dian)池(chi)(chi)或鋰電(dian)池(chi)(chi)。其作用(yong)是在有光照時(shi)將太陽(yang)能電(dian)池(chi)(chi)板所發(fa)出的電(dian)能儲(chu)存(cun)起來，到需要(yao)的時(shi)候再釋放(fang)出來。 

      （四）逆變(bian)器：太陽能(neng)(neng)的直接輸出一(yi)般都(dou)是(shi)12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為(wei)能(neng)(neng)向220VAC的電器提供電能(neng)(neng)，需(xu)(xu)要將太陽能(neng)(neng)發(fa)電系(xi)統所發(fa)出的直流(liu)(liu)電能(neng)(neng)轉換成交(jiao)流(liu)(liu)電能(neng)(neng)，因此需(xu)(xu)要使用(yong)DC-AC逆變(bian)器。