太陽能發(fa)電(dian)(dian)分光熱(re)(re)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)和光伏發(fa)電(dian)(dian)。不論產(chan)銷量、發(fa)展(zhan)速度(du)和發(fa)展(zhan)前景、光熱(re)(re)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)都趕不上光伏發(fa)電(dian)(dian)。可能因光伏發(fa)電(dian)(dian)普及較廣而(er)接觸光熱(re)(re)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)較少，通常民間所(suo)說的太陽能發(fa)電(dian)(dian)往(wang)往(wang)指的就是太陽能光伏發(fa)電(dian)(dian)，簡稱光電(dian)(dian)。

       光(guang)伏發電(dian)(dian)是根(gen)據(ju)光(guang)生伏特效(xiao)應原(yuan)理,利用太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)將太(tai)陽(yang)光(guang)能(neng)(neng)直接轉(zhuan)化為(wei)電(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)。不(bu)論(lun)是獨立使用還(huan)是并網發電(dian)(dian),光(guang)伏發電(dian)(dian)系統主(zhu)要由太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)板（組件(jian)(jian)(jian)）、控制器和逆變器三大(da)部(bu)分組成(cheng)，它們主(zhu)要由電(dian)(dian)子元器件(jian)(jian)(jian)構成(cheng)，不(bu)涉及機械部(bu)件(jian)(jian)(jian),所以(yi),光(guang)伏發電(dian)(dian)設備極為(wei)精(jing)煉,可靠穩定(ding)壽命(ming)長(chang)、安(an)裝維護簡便。理論(lun)上講,光(guang)伏發電(dian)(dian)技術可以(yi)用于任何需要電(dian)(dian)源的(de)場(chang)合(he),上至(zhi)航(hang)天(tian)器,下至(zhi)家用電(dian)(dian)源,大(da)到(dao)兆瓦級(ji)電(dian)(dian)站,小到(dao)玩具,光(guang)伏電(dian)(dian)源無處(chu)不(bu)在。國產晶體硅電(dian)(dian)池(chi)效(xiao)率在10至(zhi)13%左右，國外同類(lei)產品效(xiao)率約12至(zhi)14%。由一個或(huo)多個太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)片組成(cheng)的(de)太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)板稱為(wei)光(guang)伏組件(jian)(jian)(jian)。

       太(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)光伏發(fa)電系統由太(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)電池組、太(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)控制器、蓄電池（組）組成。如輸出電源為交(jiao)流220V或(huo)110V，還需要配置逆變(bian)器。各(ge)部分的作(zuo)用(yong)為：

      （一(yi)）太(tai)(tai)(tai)(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)池(chi)板：太(tai)(tai)(tai)(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)池(chi)板是(shi)太(tai)(tai)(tai)(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)發電(dian)系統(tong)中(zhong)的核心部分(fen)，也是(shi)太(tai)(tai)(tai)(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)發電(dian)系統(tong)中(zhong)價值最高的部分(fen)。其作(zuo)用是(shi)將太(tai)(tai)(tai)(tai)陽(yang)(yang)的輻射能(neng)力(li)轉換為(wei)電(dian)能(neng)，或送往蓄(xu)電(dian)池(chi)中(zhong)存儲起來，或推(tui)動負載工作(zuo)。 

      （二）太(tai)陽(yang)能控(kong)制(zhi)器(qi)：太(tai)陽(yang)能控(kong)制(zhi)器(qi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)作(zuo)用是(shi)控(kong)制(zhi)整個系統的(de)(de)(de)(de)工作(zuo)狀態，并對蓄電池起到過充(chong)電保護(hu)、過放電保護(hu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)作(zuo)用。在溫(wen)差較大的(de)(de)(de)(de)地(di)方，合格的(de)(de)(de)(de)控(kong)制(zhi)器(qi)還應(ying)具備(bei)溫(wen)度(du)補償的(de)(de)(de)(de)功能。其他附加功能如(ru)光控(kong)開(kai)關(guan)、時(shi)控(kong)開(kai)關(guan)都應(ying)當是(shi)控(kong)制(zhi)器(qi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)可選項； 

      （三）蓄(xu)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)：一般為鉛酸電(dian)(dian)池(chi)，小微型(xing)系(xi)統中，也可用鎳氫電(dian)(dian)池(chi)、鎳鎘(ge)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)或鋰電(dian)(dian)池(chi)。其作用是(shi)在有光照時(shi)將太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)板(ban)所發出的電(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)儲存起來(lai)(lai)，到需要的時(shi)候再釋(shi)放出來(lai)(lai)。 

      （四）逆變(bian)器：太陽能的(de)(de)直接輸出一(yi)般都是12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為能向(xiang)220VAC的(de)(de)電(dian)器提供電(dian)能，需(xu)(xu)要將太陽能發(fa)電(dian)系統所發(fa)出的(de)(de)直流電(dian)能轉換(huan)成交(jiao)流電(dian)能，因(yin)此需(xu)(xu)要使(shi)用(yong)DC-AC逆變(bian)器。