太陽能(neng)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)分光熱(re)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)和光伏發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)。不論產銷量、發(fa)(fa)展(zhan)速(su)度(du)和發(fa)(fa)展(zhan)前景、光熱(re)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)都趕不上光伏發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)。可能(neng)因光伏發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)普及(ji)較(jiao)廣而(er)接觸光熱(re)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)較(jiao)少，通常民(min)間所說的太陽能(neng)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)往(wang)往(wang)指(zhi)的就是太陽能(neng)光伏發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)，簡稱(cheng)光電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)。

       光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)是根(gen)據光(guang)(guang)(guang)生伏特效(xiao)應原理,利用(yong)(yong)太(tai)陽(yang)能電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)將太(tai)陽(yang)光(guang)(guang)(guang)能直接轉化為(wei)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)能。不論是獨立使(shi)用(yong)(yong)還是并網(wang)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)系統主要(yao)由(you)太(tai)陽(yang)能電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)板（組件(jian)(jian)）、控(kong)制(zhi)器(qi)和(he)逆變器(qi)三大部(bu)分(fen)組成，它們主要(yao)由(you)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)子元(yuan)器(qi)件(jian)(jian)構成，不涉及機械部(bu)件(jian)(jian),所以,光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)設備極(ji)為(wei)精煉(lian),可靠(kao)穩(wen)定壽命長、安(an)裝(zhuang)維護簡便。理論上講,光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)技(ji)術可以用(yong)(yong)于(yu)任何需(xu)要(yao)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源(yuan)的(de)場(chang)合(he),上至(zhi)航天器(qi),下至(zhi)家用(yong)(yong)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源(yuan),大到(dao)兆瓦(wa)級(ji)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)站,小到(dao)玩具,光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源(yuan)無處不在。國產(chan)晶體硅電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)效(xiao)率(lv)在10至(zhi)13%左右，國外同類(lei)產(chan)品(pin)效(xiao)率(lv)約12至(zhi)14%。由(you)一個(ge)(ge)或(huo)多(duo)個(ge)(ge)太(tai)陽(yang)能電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)片(pian)組成的(de)太(tai)陽(yang)能電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)板稱為(wei)光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏組件(jian)(jian)。

       太(tai)(tai)(tai)陽能光伏(fu)發電(dian)系統由太(tai)(tai)(tai)陽能電(dian)池組、太(tai)(tai)(tai)陽能控(kong)制器(qi)、蓄(xu)電(dian)池（組）組成。如輸出(chu)電(dian)源為交流220V或110V，還需(xu)要配置逆變器(qi)。各部(bu)分的作(zuo)用為：

      （一）太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)電(dian)池(chi)(chi)板：太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)電(dian)池(chi)(chi)板是太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)發(fa)電(dian)系(xi)(xi)統(tong)中的(de)核心(xin)部(bu)分，也是太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)發(fa)電(dian)系(xi)(xi)統(tong)中價值最高的(de)部(bu)分。其作用(yong)是將太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)的(de)輻射能(neng)力轉換為電(dian)能(neng)，或送往蓄電(dian)池(chi)(chi)中存儲起來，或推動負載工作。 

      （二）太(tai)陽(yang)能控(kong)制(zhi)器(qi)：太(tai)陽(yang)能控(kong)制(zhi)器(qi)的(de)(de)作用是控(kong)制(zhi)整個系統的(de)(de)工作狀態(tai)，并對蓄電池(chi)起到過(guo)充電保護、過(guo)放電保護的(de)(de)作用。在溫差較大的(de)(de)地方，合格的(de)(de)控(kong)制(zhi)器(qi)還應具備溫度(du)補償的(de)(de)功能。其(qi)他(ta)附加功能如光控(kong)開(kai)關、時控(kong)開(kai)關都應當是控(kong)制(zhi)器(qi)的(de)(de)可選項； 

 ;     （三）蓄電(dian)(dian)池(chi)：一般為鉛酸電(dian)(dian)池(chi)，小微型系(xi)統(tong)中，也可用鎳氫電(dian)(dian)池(chi)、鎳鎘電(dian)(dian)池(chi)或鋰電(dian)(dian)池(chi)。其(qi)作(zuo)用是在有光照(zhao)時將太陽能電(dian)(dian)池(chi)板所發出(chu)的電(dian)(dian)能儲存起來，到需(xu)要的時候再釋放出(chu)來。 

      （四）逆變器：太(tai)陽能(neng)的(de)直接輸出一般(ban)都是12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為能(neng)向(xiang)220VAC的(de)電(dian)(dian)器提供(gong)電(dian)(dian)能(neng)，需要將(jiang)太(tai)陽能(neng)發電(dian)(dian)系(xi)統所發出的(de)直流(liu)(liu)電(dian)(dian)能(neng)轉換成交(jiao)流(liu)(liu)電(dian)(dian)能(neng)，因此需要使(shi)用DC-AC逆變器。