太陽能(neng)(neng)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)分光熱發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)和(he)光伏發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)。不論(lun)產銷量、發(fa)(fa)展(zhan)速度(du)和(he)發(fa)(fa)展(zhan)前(qian)景、光熱發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)都(dou)趕不上(shang)光伏發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)。可(ke)能(neng)(neng)因(yin)光伏發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)普及較廣而接觸光熱發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)較少，通常(chang)民間(jian)所說的(de)太陽能(neng)(neng)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)往往指的(de)就是太陽能(neng)(neng)光伏發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)，簡稱光電(dian)(dian)。

       光伏(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)是根據光生伏(fu)特效(xiao)(xiao)應(ying)原理,利用(yong)太陽(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)將太陽(yang)光能(neng)直接(jie)轉化為(wei)電(dian)(dian)(dian)能(neng)。不論(lun)是獨立使(shi)用(yong)還是并網發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian),光伏(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)系統主(zhu)要(yao)由(you)太陽(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)板（組(zu)(zu)件(jian)）、控制器和逆變器三大部分(fen)組(zu)(zu)成(cheng)，它們主(zhu)要(yao)由(you)電(dian)(dian)(dian)子元器件(jian)構成(cheng)，不涉及機械部件(jian),所以,光伏(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)設備(bei)極為(wei)精煉,可(ke)靠穩定壽命長、安裝維護簡便。理論(lun)上(shang)講,光伏(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)技術(shu)可(ke)以用(yong)于任何需要(yao)電(dian)(dian)(dian)源的(de)場合,上(shang)至(zhi)航天器,下至(zhi)家用(yong)電(dian)(dian)(dian)源,大到(dao)兆瓦級電(dian)(dian)(dian)站,小到(dao)玩(wan)具,光伏(fu)電(dian)(dian)(dian)源無處不在(zai)。國產(chan)晶體硅電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)效(xiao)(xiao)率在(zai)10至(zhi)13%左右，國外同(tong)類產(chan)品效(xiao)(xiao)率約(yue)12至(zhi)14%。由(you)一個或多個太陽(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)片組(zu)(zu)成(cheng)的(de)太陽(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)板稱為(wei)光伏(fu)組(zu)(zu)件(jian)。

       太陽(yang)能(neng)光伏(fu)發電系統由太陽(yang)能(neng)電池組、太陽(yang)能(neng)控制器、蓄電池（組）組成(cheng)。如輸(shu)出電源為(wei)交(jiao)流220V或110V，還(huan)需(xu)要配置逆變器。各(ge)部分(fen)的作用為(wei)：

      （一）太陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)池板：太陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)池板是(shi)太陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)(neng)發(fa)電(dian)系(xi)(xi)統中的(de)核心部分，也是(shi)太陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)(neng)發(fa)電(dian)系(xi)(xi)統中價值最高的(de)部分。其(qi)作用(yong)是(shi)將太陽(yang)(yang)的(de)輻射能(neng)(neng)力轉換(huan)為電(dian)能(neng)(neng)，或(huo)送(song)往蓄電(dian)池中存儲起來(lai)，或(huo)推動負載(zai)工(gong)作。 

      （二）太(tai)陽能控(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)(qi)：太(tai)陽能控(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)(qi)的(de)(de)作(zuo)用是控(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)整個(ge)系統的(de)(de)工(gong)作(zuo)狀態，并對蓄電(dian)池(chi)起到(dao)過充電(dian)保護、過放電(dian)保護的(de)(de)作(zuo)用。在溫差較大的(de)(de)地方，合(he)格(ge)的(de)(de)控(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)(qi)還應具(ju)備溫度補償的(de)(de)功(gong)能。其(qi)他附加功(gong)能如(ru)光(guang)控(kong)開關(guan)、時控(kong)開關(guan)都應當是控(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)(qi)的(de)(de)可選項(xiang)； 

      （三）蓄(xu)電(dian)(dian)池：一般為鉛酸電(dian)(dian)池，小微型系統中，也可(ke)用鎳氫電(dian)(dian)池、鎳鎘電(dian)(dian)池或鋰電(dian)(dian)池。其作用是在有光照時將太陽能電(dian)(dian)池板(ban)所發出(chu)的(de)電(dian)(dian)能儲存起來(lai)，到(dao)需要的(de)時候再(zai)釋(shi)放出(chu)來(lai)。 

      （四）逆(ni)變器：太(tai)陽能的直(zhi)接(jie)輸出一(yi)般都是12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為(wei)能向220VAC的電(dian)器提供電(dian)能，需要將太(tai)陽能發電(dian)系統所(suo)發出的直(zhi)流(liu)電(dian)能轉換(huan)成交流(liu)電(dian)能，因此需要使用DC-AC逆(ni)變器。