太陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)分光(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)和(he)光(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)。不論產銷(xiao)量、發(fa)(fa)展(zhan)速(su)度和(he)發(fa)(fa)展(zhan)前景、光(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)都趕不上光(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)。可能(neng)因光(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)普及(ji)較廣而接觸光(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)較少(shao)，通常(chang)民間(jian)所說(shuo)的太陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)往往指的就是太陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)光(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)，簡稱光(guang)電(dian)(dian)。

       光(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)是(shi)根據光(guang)生伏特效應原(yuan)理,利用(yong)(yong)太(tai)(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)將太(tai)(tai)(tai)陽(yang)光(guang)能(neng)(neng)直接轉化為(wei)電(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)。不(bu)論(lun)是(shi)獨立使用(yong)(yong)還(huan)是(shi)并網發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian),光(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)系統(tong)主要(yao)由(you)(you)太(tai)(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)板(ban)（組(zu)件(jian)）、控制器和(he)逆變器三大部(bu)分組(zu)成，它們主要(yao)由(you)(you)電(dian)(dian)子元器件(jian)構成，不(bu)涉及機械部(bu)件(jian),所以,光(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)設(she)備(bei)極為(wei)精(jing)煉,可靠穩定壽命長、安裝維護簡(jian)便(bian)。理論(lun)上(shang)講,光(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)技術(shu)可以用(yong)(yong)于任何需要(yao)電(dian)(dian)源(yuan)的場(chang)合,上(shang)至(zhi)航天器,下至(zhi)家用(yong)(yong)電(dian)(dian)源(yuan),大到(dao)兆(zhao)瓦級電(dian)(dian)站,小到(dao)玩具,光(guang)伏電(dian)(dian)源(yuan)無處(chu)不(bu)在(zai)。國(guo)產晶體硅電(dian)(dian)池(chi)效率在(zai)10至(zhi)13%左右，國(guo)外同類產品(pin)效率約12至(zhi)14%。由(you)(you)一(yi)個或多(duo)個太(tai)(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)片(pian)組(zu)成的太(tai)(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)板(ban)稱(cheng)為(wei)光(guang)伏組(zu)件(jian)。

       太(tai)陽能光(guang)伏發電(dian)系統由太(tai)陽能電(dian)池組(zu)、太(tai)陽能控制器(qi)、蓄(xu)電(dian)池（組(zu)）組(zu)成。如輸出(chu)電(dian)源為交流(liu)220V或110V，還需要(yao)配置逆變器(qi)。各部分(fen)的作用為：

      （一(yi)）太陽能(neng)電(dian)池(chi)(chi)板(ban)：太陽能(neng)電(dian)池(chi)(chi)板(ban)是太陽能(neng)發電(dian)系(xi)統(tong)中的核心(xin)部分，也(ye)是太陽能(neng)發電(dian)系(xi)統(tong)中價值最高的部分。其作用是將太陽的輻射能(neng)力(li)轉換為電(dian)能(neng)，或送往蓄電(dian)池(chi)(chi)中存儲(chu)起來，或推動負載工(gong)作。 

      （二）太陽(yang)能控(kong)制器(qi)(qi)：太陽(yang)能控(kong)制器(qi)(qi)的作用(yong)是控(kong)制整個系(xi)統的工作狀態，并對蓄(xu)電池起到過(guo)充電保(bao)(bao)護、過(guo)放電保(bao)(bao)護的作用(yong)。在溫差(cha)較大的地方，合格(ge)的控(kong)制器(qi)(qi)還應具備溫度補償的功(gong)能。其他附(fu)加功(gong)能如光控(kong)開(kai)關、時控(kong)開(kai)關都應當是控(kong)制器(qi)(qi)的可選項； 

      （三）蓄(xu)電(dian)池(chi)：一般為鉛酸電(dian)池(chi)，小(xiao)微型系統中，也可用鎳氫電(dian)池(chi)、鎳鎘電(dian)池(chi)或鋰(li)電(dian)池(chi)。其作用是(shi)在有光照時將太陽能(neng)電(dian)池(chi)板所發出的(de)電(dian)能(neng)儲存(cun)起(qi)來(lai)，到需(xu)要的(de)時候再釋放出來(lai)。 

      （四）逆(ni)變器：太(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)的直接輸出一般都是12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為能(neng)(neng)向220VAC的電(dian)(dian)器提供電(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)，需要將太(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)發電(dian)(dian)系統所發出的直流電(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)轉換成(cheng)交流電(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)，因(yin)此(ci)需要使用DC-AC逆(ni)變器。