太陽能(neng)(neng)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)分光(guang)(guang)熱(re)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)和(he)光(guang)(guang)伏發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)。不論產銷量、發展速度和(he)發展前景(jing)、光(guang)(guang)熱(re)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)都趕不上光(guang)(guang)伏發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)。可(ke)能(neng)(neng)因光(guang)(guang)伏發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)普(pu)及較廣而(er)接觸光(guang)(guang)熱(re)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)較少，通常民間所(suo)說(shuo)的太陽能(neng)(neng)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)往(wang)(wang)往(wang)(wang)指的就是太陽能(neng)(neng)光(guang)(guang)伏發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)，簡(jian)稱光(guang)(guang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)。

       光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發電是(shi)(shi)根據光(guang)(guang)生(sheng)伏(fu)特(te)效應原理,利用太陽(yang)能電池(chi)將(jiang)太陽(yang)光(guang)(guang)能直接(jie)轉(zhuan)化為電能。不(bu)論(lun)是(shi)(shi)獨立使(shi)用還是(shi)(shi)并網發電,光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發電系統主(zhu)(zhu)要由太陽(yang)能電池(chi)板（組(zu)件）、控制器和逆變(bian)器三(san)大(da)部(bu)分組(zu)成，它們(men)主(zhu)(zhu)要由電子元器件構(gou)成，不(bu)涉及機(ji)械部(bu)件,所以,光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發電設備(bei)極為精煉,可(ke)靠穩定壽命(ming)長、安裝維護(hu)簡便(bian)。理論(lun)上(shang)講(jiang),光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發電技術可(ke)以用于任何(he)需要電源的場合(he),上(shang)至(zhi)(zhi)航天器,下至(zhi)(zhi)家(jia)用電源,大(da)到(dao)兆瓦(wa)級電站(zhan),小到(dao)玩具,光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)電源無處不(bu)在(zai)(zai)。國產晶體硅(gui)電池(chi)效率(lv)在(zai)(zai)10至(zhi)(zhi)13%左右，國外同類產品(pin)效率(lv)約12至(zhi)(zhi)14%。由一個或(huo)多個太陽(yang)能電池(chi)片(pian)組(zu)成的太陽(yang)能電池(chi)板稱為光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)組(zu)件。

       太(tai)陽能光伏(fu)發電系統(tong)由(you)太(tai)陽能電池(chi)(chi)組、太(tai)陽能控制器、蓄(xu)電池(chi)(chi)（組）組成。如輸(shu)出(chu)電源為(wei)交(jiao)流220V或110V，還需要配(pei)置逆變器。各(ge)部分的作用為(wei)：

      （一）太(tai)(tai)陽能電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)板(ban)：太(tai)(tai)陽能電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)板(ban)是太(tai)(tai)陽能發電(dian)(dian)系統中(zhong)的(de)核心(xin)部(bu)分(fen)，也是太(tai)(tai)陽能發電(dian)(dian)系統中(zhong)價值最高的(de)部(bu)分(fen)。其作(zuo)用是將(jiang)太(tai)(tai)陽的(de)輻射能力轉換為電(dian)(dian)能，或送(song)往(wang)蓄電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)中(zhong)存儲起(qi)來(lai)，或推動負載工(gong)作(zuo)。 

      （二）太(tai)陽能控(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)：太(tai)陽能控(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)的(de)作(zuo)用是(shi)控(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)整(zheng)個系統的(de)工作(zuo)狀態，并對蓄電(dian)池起到過(guo)充電(dian)保(bao)護、過(guo)放電(dian)保(bao)護的(de)作(zuo)用。在溫(wen)(wen)差較大(da)的(de)地方(fang)，合格的(de)控(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)還應(ying)具備(bei)溫(wen)(wen)度補償的(de)功能。其他附加功能如光控(kong)開關、時控(kong)開關都(dou)應(ying)當是(shi)控(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)的(de)可選項； 

      （三）蓄電(dian)(dian)(dian)池：一般(ban)為鉛酸電(dian)(dian)(dian)池，小微(wei)型系統(tong)中，也可用鎳氫電(dian)(dian)(dian)池、鎳鎘電(dian)(dian)(dian)池或(huo)鋰電(dian)(dian)(dian)池。其作用是在有光照(zhao)時(shi)將(jiang)太陽能電(dian)(dian)(dian)池板所發(fa)出的電(dian)(dian)(dian)能儲存起來(lai)，到需(xu)要的時(shi)候(hou)再釋放出來(lai)。 

      （四）逆變(bian)(bian)器：太陽能的直接輸(shu)出一般都是12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為(wei)能向(xiang)220VAC的電器提(ti)供電能，需(xu)要將太陽能發(fa)電系(xi)統所發(fa)出的直流(liu)電能轉換成交流(liu)電能，因此需(xu)要使用DC-AC逆變(bian)(bian)器。