太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)分(fen)光(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)和光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)。不(bu)論產銷(xiao)量、發(fa)(fa)展(zhan)速度和發(fa)(fa)展(zhan)前景、光(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)都(dou)趕不(bu)上光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)。可能(neng)因光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)普及較廣而接觸光(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)較少，通(tong)常民(min)間所說的(de)太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)往往指的(de)就是太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)，簡(jian)稱光(guang)電(dian)(dian)。

       光(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)是(shi)根據光(guang)生伏(fu)(fu)特效(xiao)(xiao)應原(yuan)理,利用太陽(yang)能電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)將太陽(yang)光(guang)能直接轉化為電(dian)(dian)能。不(bu)論(lun)是(shi)獨立使用還(huan)是(shi)并(bing)網發(fa)電(dian)(dian),光(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)系(xi)統主要(yao)(yao)由(you)(you)太陽(yang)能電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)板(ban)(ban)（組件(jian)）、控制器(qi)和(he)逆變器(qi)三大部分組成(cheng)，它們主要(yao)(yao)由(you)(you)電(dian)(dian)子元器(qi)件(jian)構成(cheng)，不(bu)涉及機(ji)械部件(jian),所以(yi)(yi),光(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)設備極為精煉,可靠穩定壽命長(chang)、安裝維(wei)護簡便。理論(lun)上(shang)講,光(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)技術可以(yi)(yi)用于任何(he)需要(yao)(yao)電(dian)(dian)源(yuan)的場合(he),上(shang)至(zhi)航天器(qi),下至(zhi)家用電(dian)(dian)源(yuan),大到(dao)兆瓦級電(dian)(dian)站,小(xiao)到(dao)玩具,光(guang)伏(fu)(fu)電(dian)(dian)源(yuan)無處不(bu)在。國產晶體硅電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)效(xiao)(xiao)率在10至(zhi)13%左右，國外(wai)同類產品效(xiao)(xiao)率約(yue)12至(zhi)14%。由(you)(you)一個或多個太陽(yang)能電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)片(pian)組成(cheng)的太陽(yang)能電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)板(ban)(ban)稱為光(guang)伏(fu)(fu)組件(jian)。

       太陽能光伏發電(dian)系統由太陽能電(dian)池組、太陽能控制器、蓄(xu)電(dian)池（組）組成。如輸出電(dian)源(yuan)為交流220V或110V，還需(xu)要(yao)配(pei)置(zhi)逆變器。各(ge)部(bu)分的作(zuo)用為：

      （一）太陽能(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)板：太陽能(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)板是(shi)太陽能(neng)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)系統(tong)中(zhong)的核心(xin)部分，也(ye)是(shi)太陽能(neng)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)系統(tong)中(zhong)價(jia)值最(zui)高的部分。其作用是(shi)將(jiang)太陽的輻射能(neng)力轉換為電(dian)(dian)(dian)能(neng)，或(huo)送往蓄電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)中(zhong)存儲起(qi)來，或(huo)推動負載工作。 

      （二）太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)控(kong)制器(qi)：太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)控(kong)制器(qi)的(de)(de)(de)作(zuo)用(yong)是控(kong)制整(zheng)個系統的(de)(de)(de)工(gong)作(zuo)狀(zhuang)態(tai)，并對(dui)蓄電池起到過充電保(bao)護、過放電保(bao)護的(de)(de)(de)作(zuo)用(yong)。在溫差較大的(de)(de)(de)地(di)方，合(he)格的(de)(de)(de)控(kong)制器(qi)還應具備溫度(du)補(bu)償(chang)的(de)(de)(de)功(gong)能(neng)(neng)。其(qi)他附加功(gong)能(neng)(neng)如光控(kong)開關、時控(kong)開關都(dou)應當是控(kong)制器(qi)的(de)(de)(de)可選項； 

      （三）蓄電(dian)池：一(yi)般為鉛酸電(dian)池，小(xiao)微型系(xi)統中，也可用鎳氫電(dian)池、鎳鎘電(dian)池或鋰電(dian)池。其作(zuo)用是在有(you)光照時(shi)將太陽能(neng)電(dian)池板所發出(chu)的電(dian)能(neng)儲存起來，到需(xu)要的時(shi)候再釋放出(chu)來。 

      （四）逆(ni)變器：太陽(yang)能(neng)的(de)直(zhi)接輸出一般都是12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為能(neng)向220VAC的(de)電器提供電能(neng)，需要將太陽(yang)能(neng)發(fa)電系統所發(fa)出的(de)直(zhi)流電能(neng)轉(zhuan)換成交流電能(neng)，因此需要使用(yong)DC-AC逆(ni)變器。