;太(tai)陽能發(fa)電分光(guang)(guang)熱(re)發(fa)電和光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)電。不論產銷(xiao)量、發(fa)展速度和發(fa)展前景、光(guang)(guang)熱(re)發(fa)電都趕不上(shang)光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)電。可(ke)能因(yin)光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)電普(pu)及較廣而接觸光(guang)(guang)熱(re)發(fa)電較少，通常民間(jian)所說的太(tai)陽能發(fa)電往往指的就(jiu)是太(tai)陽能光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)電，簡稱光(guang)(guang)電。

       光(guang)伏(fu)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)是根據光(guang)生(sheng)伏(fu)特效應原理,利用(yong)太(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)將太(tai)陽光(guang)能(neng)(neng)直接轉化為電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)。不論(lun)是獨立使用(yong)還是并網(wang)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),光(guang)伏(fu)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)系統(tong)主(zhu)要由(you)(you)太(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)板（組件）、控(kong)制器和逆變器三大(da)部分組成，它們主(zhu)要由(you)(you)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)子元器件構成，不涉及機械部件,所以,光(guang)伏(fu)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)設備極為精(jing)煉,可(ke)靠穩定壽命(ming)長、安裝(zhuang)維護簡便。理論(lun)上講,光(guang)伏(fu)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)技術可(ke)以用(yong)于任何需要電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源(yuan)的場合,上至(zhi)航天器,下(xia)至(zhi)家(jia)用(yong)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源(yuan),大(da)到(dao)兆瓦(wa)級電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)站,小到(dao)玩具,光(guang)伏(fu)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源(yuan)無處不在。國(guo)產(chan)晶(jing)體硅電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)效率在10至(zhi)13%左右，國(guo)外同類產(chan)品效率約12至(zhi)14%。由(you)(you)一(yi)個或多個太(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)片組成的太(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)板稱為光(guang)伏(fu)組件。

       太(tai)陽能光伏(fu)發電(dian)系統(tong)由太(tai)陽能電(dian)池組(zu)(zu)、太(tai)陽能控(kong)制器、蓄電(dian)池（組(zu)(zu)）組(zu)(zu)成(cheng)。如輸出(chu)電(dian)源(yuan)為交流220V或110V，還需要配置(zhi)逆變器。各部分的作用為：

      （一）太(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)電池(chi)(chi)板：太(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)電池(chi)(chi)板是太(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)發電系統中(zhong)(zhong)的核心部分，也是太(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)發電系統中(zhong)(zhong)價值最(zui)高的部分。其作用(yong)是將太(tai)(tai)陽的輻射能(neng)力轉換為電能(neng)，或送(song)往蓄電池(chi)(chi)中(zhong)(zhong)存儲(chu)起(qi)來，或推動負載工作。 

      （二）太(tai)陽能控(kong)制(zhi)器(qi)：太(tai)陽能控(kong)制(zhi)器(qi)的(de)作用是(shi)控(kong)制(zhi)整個(ge)系統的(de)工(gong)作狀態，并對蓄電池起到過充電保護、過放(fang)電保護的(de)作用。在溫差(cha)較大的(de)地(di)方，合格的(de)控(kong)制(zhi)器(qi)還應(ying)具備(bei)溫度(du)補償的(de)功(gong)(gong)能。其他附加功(gong)(gong)能如光(guang)控(kong)開(kai)關(guan)、時控(kong)開(kai)關(guan)都應(ying)當是(shi)控(kong)制(zhi)器(qi)的(de)可選項(xiang)； 

      （三）蓄電池(chi)(chi)：一般(ban)為鉛酸電池(chi)(chi)，小微型(xing)系(xi)統中，也可用鎳(nie)氫電池(chi)(chi)、鎳(nie)鎘電池(chi)(chi)或(huo)鋰電池(chi)(chi)。其(qi)作用是(shi)在有光照(zhao)時(shi)將太陽能電池(chi)(chi)板所(suo)發(fa)出(chu)的(de)電能儲存起來，到需(xu)要的(de)時(shi)候再(zai)釋放出(chu)來。 

      （四）逆變器(qi)：太(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)的(de)直接輸出(chu)一般(ban)都是12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為(wei)能(neng)(neng)向(xiang)220VAC的(de)電(dian)器(qi)提供電(dian)能(neng)(neng)，需要(yao)將太(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)發電(dian)系(xi)統所發出(chu)的(de)直流(liu)電(dian)能(neng)(neng)轉換成交(jiao)流(liu)電(dian)能(neng)(neng)，因此需要(yao)使用DC-AC逆變器(qi)。