太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)分光(guang)(guang)(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)和光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)。不論產銷量、發(fa)(fa)展速度和發(fa)(fa)展前景、光(guang)(guang)(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)都趕(gan)不上光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)。可能(neng)因光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)普及(ji)較廣而(er)接(jie)觸光(guang)(guang)(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)較少，通常民間(jian)所說的太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)往往指的就是太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)，簡(jian)稱光(guang)(guang)(guang)電(dian)。

       光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)是根據光(guang)(guang)生(sheng)伏(fu)(fu)特效(xiao)應(ying)原理,利用(yong)(yong)太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)將(jiang)太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)光(guang)(guang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)直(zhi)接轉化為電(dian)(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)(neng)。不(bu)論(lun)是獨立使用(yong)(yong)還是并網發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian),光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)系(xi)統主(zhu)要(yao)(yao)由太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)板(ban)（組(zu)(zu)件(jian)）、控制器和逆(ni)變器三大部分(fen)組(zu)(zu)成，它們主(zhu)要(yao)(yao)由電(dian)(dian)(dian)子(zi)元器件(jian)構成，不(bu)涉及機(ji)械部件(jian),所以,光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)設(she)備極為精煉,可靠穩定壽命(ming)長(chang)、安裝(zhuang)維護簡便。理論(lun)上講,光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)技(ji)術(shu)可以用(yong)(yong)于任何(he)需(xu)要(yao)(yao)電(dian)(dian)(dian)源的場合(he),上至航天器,下至家用(yong)(yong)電(dian)(dian)(dian)源,大到兆(zhao)瓦級(ji)電(dian)(dian)(dian)站,小到玩具(ju),光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)電(dian)(dian)(dian)源無處不(bu)在。國產晶體硅電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)效(xiao)率在10至13%左(zuo)右，國外(wai)同類產品效(xiao)率約(yue)12至14%。由一個或(huo)多個太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)片(pian)組(zu)(zu)成的太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)板(ban)稱為光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)組(zu)(zu)件(jian)。

       太(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)光伏發電(dian)系統由(you)太(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)電(dian)池組(zu)、太(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)控制器、蓄電(dian)池（組(zu)）組(zu)成(cheng)。如(ru)輸出電(dian)源為交流(liu)220V或110V，還需要配置逆變器。各部分的作用為：

 ;     （一）太陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)池板：太陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)池板是(shi)太陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)發電(dian)系統中(zhong)的核心部(bu)分，也是(shi)太陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)發電(dian)系統中(zhong)價值最高的部(bu)分。其作用是(shi)將(jiang)太陽(yang)(yang)的輻射能(neng)力轉換為(wei)電(dian)能(neng)，或送往蓄(xu)電(dian)池中(zhong)存(cun)儲起來，或推動負載(zai)工(gong)作。 

 ;     （二(er)）太(tai)陽能控制(zhi)器(qi)：太(tai)陽能控制(zhi)器(qi)的(de)作(zuo)(zuo)用(yong)是(shi)控制(zhi)整個系統的(de)工(gong)作(zuo)(zuo)狀態，并對蓄電(dian)池起(qi)到過(guo)充電(dian)保護(hu)、過(guo)放電(dian)保護(hu)的(de)作(zuo)(zuo)用(yong)。在溫差較大(da)的(de)地(di)方，合(he)格的(de)控制(zhi)器(qi)還應(ying)具備溫度補償的(de)功能。其他附加功能如光(guang)控開關(guan)、時(shi)控開關(guan)都(dou)應(ying)當是(shi)控制(zhi)器(qi)的(de)可(ke)選(xuan)項(xiang)； 

      （三(san)）蓄電池(chi)(chi)：一(yi)般為鉛(qian)酸電池(chi)(chi)，小微型系統中，也可用鎳(nie)氫電池(chi)(chi)、鎳(nie)鎘電池(chi)(chi)或鋰電池(chi)(chi)。其作(zuo)用是在有光照時將太陽能(neng)(neng)電池(chi)(chi)板所發(fa)出(chu)的電能(neng)(neng)儲存起來，到需要(yao)的時候再釋放出(chu)來。 

      （四）逆變(bian)器(qi)(qi)：太陽能(neng)(neng)的(de)直接(jie)輸出一(yi)般都是12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為能(neng)(neng)向220VAC的(de)電(dian)器(qi)(qi)提(ti)供電(dian)能(neng)(neng)，需(xu)要(yao)將(jiang)太陽能(neng)(neng)發電(dian)系統所發出的(de)直流電(dian)能(neng)(neng)轉換(huan)成(cheng)交(jiao)流電(dian)能(neng)(neng)，因此需(xu)要(yao)使用DC-AC逆變(bian)器(qi)(qi)。