太(tai)陽能發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)分(fen)光(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)和(he)光(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)。不論產銷(xiao)量、發(fa)(fa)展速度和(he)發(fa)(fa)展前景、光(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)都(dou)趕不上光(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)。可能因光(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)普及較廣(guang)而接(jie)觸光(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)較少，通常(chang)民間所說的太(tai)陽能發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)往(wang)往(wang)指的就(jiu)是太(tai)陽能光(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)，簡稱(cheng)光(guang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)。

       光伏發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)是(shi)(shi)根據光生伏特效應原理,利用太(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)將太(tai)(tai)陽光能(neng)(neng)(neng)直接轉(zhuan)化為(wei)(wei)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)(neng)。不(bu)(bu)論是(shi)(shi)獨立使(shi)用還(huan)是(shi)(shi)并網發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),光伏發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)系統主要由(you)太(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)板（組(zu)(zu)件(jian)）、控制(zhi)器(qi)和逆變器(qi)三大(da)部(bu)分組(zu)(zu)成，它們(men)主要由(you)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)子元(yuan)器(qi)件(jian)構成，不(bu)(bu)涉及(ji)機械部(bu)件(jian),所以(yi),光伏發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)設備極為(wei)(wei)精煉,可(ke)(ke)靠穩(wen)定(ding)壽命長(chang)、安裝維護簡(jian)便。理論上(shang)講(jiang),光伏發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)技術(shu)可(ke)(ke)以(yi)用于任何(he)需要電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源(yuan)的(de)場合,上(shang)至航天器(qi),下至家用電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源(yuan),大(da)到兆瓦級電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)站,小到玩具,光伏電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源(yuan)無(wu)處不(bu)(bu)在。國(guo)產(chan)晶體硅電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)效率在10至13%左右，國(guo)外(wai)同(tong)類(lei)產(chan)品(pin)效率約12至14%。由(you)一個或多(duo)個太(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)片組(zu)(zu)成的(de)太(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)板稱為(wei)(wei)光伏組(zu)(zu)件(jian)。

       太陽能(neng)光伏發電(dian)系統由(you)太陽能(neng)電(dian)池(chi)組、太陽能(neng)控制器(qi)、蓄電(dian)池(chi)（組）組成。如輸出電(dian)源為交(jiao)流220V或110V，還需要配置逆變器(qi)。各部分的作用(yong)為：

      （一）太(tai)陽(yang)能電(dian)池(chi)(chi)板：太(tai)陽(yang)能電(dian)池(chi)(chi)板是太(tai)陽(yang)能發電(dian)系統中的核心(xin)部分，也是太(tai)陽(yang)能發電(dian)系統中價值最(zui)高(gao)的部分。其作用是將太(tai)陽(yang)的輻(fu)射能力轉換(huan)為電(dian)能，或送往蓄電(dian)池(chi)(chi)中存儲(chu)起來，或推動(dong)負載工作。 

      （二）太陽能(neng)控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)：太陽能(neng)控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)的作(zuo)(zuo)用(yong)是控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)整(zheng)個系(xi)統的工作(zuo)(zuo)狀態(tai)，并(bing)對(dui)蓄電(dian)池起到過充電(dian)保(bao)護、過放電(dian)保(bao)護的作(zuo)(zuo)用(yong)。在溫差較(jiao)大的地方，合格的控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)還應具備溫度補償的功(gong)能(neng)。其他附加(jia)功(gong)能(neng)如光(guang)控(kong)(kong)開關、時控(kong)(kong)開關都應當是控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)的可選項； 

      （三(san)）蓄電(dian)池(chi)：一般為鉛酸電(dian)池(chi)，小(xiao)微(wei)型(xing)系統(tong)中，也可用鎳氫電(dian)池(chi)、鎳鎘電(dian)池(chi)或(huo)鋰電(dian)池(chi)。其(qi)作用是在有光(guang)照時將太陽能(neng)電(dian)池(chi)板所發出的電(dian)能(neng)儲存起來，到(dao)需要的時候再釋放出來。 

      （四）逆(ni)變器(qi)：太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)的(de)直接輸出一般都(dou)是(shi)12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為(wei)能(neng)(neng)(neng)向220VAC的(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)器(qi)提(ti)供電(dian)(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)(neng)，需要(yao)將太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)系統所發出的(de)直流(liu)電(dian)(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)(neng)轉(zhuan)換成交流(liu)電(dian)(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)(neng)，因此需要(yao)使用(yong)DC-AC逆(ni)變器(qi)。