太陽能(neng)(neng)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)分光(guang)(guang)(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)和(he)光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)。不論產銷量(liang)、發(fa)(fa)展(zhan)速(su)度和(he)發(fa)(fa)展(zhan)前景、光(guang)(guang)(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)都趕不上光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)。可(ke)能(neng)(neng)因光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)普及較(jiao)廣而(er)接觸光(guang)(guang)(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)較(jiao)少，通常(chang)民間所(suo)說的太陽能(neng)(neng)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)往往指的就(jiu)是太陽能(neng)(neng)光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)，簡稱光(guang)(guang)(guang)電(dian)(dian)。

       光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)是(shi)根據光(guang)(guang)生伏(fu)(fu)(fu)特效應原理,利用(yong)太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)將太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)(yang)光(guang)(guang)能(neng)直(zhi)接轉化為(wei)電(dian)(dian)能(neng)。不論是(shi)獨立使用(yong)還是(shi)并網發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian),光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)系(xi)統主要(yao)由(you)太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)板（組件）、控制器(qi)(qi)和(he)逆變器(qi)(qi)三大(da)部分組成，它(ta)們(men)主要(yao)由(you)電(dian)(dian)子元器(qi)(qi)件構(gou)成，不涉及機械部件,所以(yi),光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)設備(bei)極(ji)為(wei)精煉,可靠(kao)穩定壽命長、安裝維護簡(jian)便。理論上(shang)講,光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)技術可以(yi)用(yong)于(yu)任何需(xu)要(yao)電(dian)(dian)源的場合,上(shang)至(zhi)航(hang)天器(qi)(qi),下至(zhi)家用(yong)電(dian)(dian)源,大(da)到兆(zhao)瓦級電(dian)(dian)站,小到玩具,光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)(fu)電(dian)(dian)源無(wu)處不在(zai)。國(guo)產晶體硅電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)效率(lv)(lv)在(zai)10至(zhi)13%左右，國(guo)外同類產品(pin)效率(lv)(lv)約12至(zhi)14%。由(you)一個或多個太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)片(pian)組成的太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)板稱為(wei)光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)(fu)組件。

       太陽能(neng)(neng)光伏發電系統由太陽能(neng)(neng)電池(chi)組(zu)、太陽能(neng)(neng)控制器(qi)、蓄電池(chi)（組(zu)）組(zu)成(cheng)。如(ru)輸出電源為交流220V或110V，還需要配置(zhi)逆變器(qi)。各部分的作用為：

      （一）太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)電池(chi)板：太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)電池(chi)板是太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)發電系(xi)統(tong)中(zhong)(zhong)的(de)(de)核心部(bu)分，也是太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)發電系(xi)統(tong)中(zhong)(zhong)價值最(zui)高的(de)(de)部(bu)分。其(qi)作(zuo)用是將(jiang)太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)的(de)(de)輻射能(neng)力轉換為電能(neng)，或送往蓄電池(chi)中(zhong)(zhong)存儲起來(lai)，或推動(dong)負載工(gong)作(zuo)。 

      （二）太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)控(kong)制器(qi)(qi)(qi)：太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)控(kong)制器(qi)(qi)(qi)的作用是控(kong)制整個系統的工作狀態，并對蓄電池起到過充電保(bao)護、過放電保(bao)護的作用。在溫(wen)差較(jiao)大(da)的地方，合格的控(kong)制器(qi)(qi)(qi)還應具備(bei)溫(wen)度補(bu)償的功能(neng)。其(qi)他附加功能(neng)如光控(kong)開關、時控(kong)開關都應當是控(kong)制器(qi)(qi)(qi)的可選項； 

      （三）蓄(xu)電(dian)池：一般為鉛酸電(dian)池，小微型系統中，也可用鎳氫(qing)電(dian)池、鎳鎘電(dian)池或鋰電(dian)池。其作用是在有光照時將太陽能電(dian)池板所(suo)發出的電(dian)能儲存(cun)起來，到需要的時候再釋放出來。 

      （四）逆(ni)(ni)變器(qi)：太陽能(neng)(neng)的直(zhi)接輸出一般都是(shi)12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為(wei)能(neng)(neng)向(xiang)220VAC的電(dian)器(qi)提供電(dian)能(neng)(neng)，需(xu)要將(jiang)太陽能(neng)(neng)發(fa)電(dian)系統(tong)所發(fa)出的直(zhi)流(liu)電(dian)能(neng)(neng)轉換成(cheng)交流(liu)電(dian)能(neng)(neng)，因此需(xu)要使用(yong)DC-AC逆(ni)(ni)變器(qi)。