太陽能(neng)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)分光(guang)熱發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)和光(guang)伏(fu)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)。不論產銷量、發展速度和發展前景(jing)、光(guang)熱發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)都(dou)趕不上光(guang)伏(fu)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)。可能(neng)因光(guang)伏(fu)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)普及較廣而接觸光(guang)熱發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)較少，通常民間所(suo)說的太陽能(neng)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)往(wang)往(wang)指(zhi)的就是太陽能(neng)光(guang)伏(fu)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)，簡稱光(guang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)。

       光(guang)伏發電(dian)(dian)是根據光(guang)生伏特(te)效應原(yuan)理,利用(yong)(yong)太陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)將太陽(yang)(yang)光(guang)能(neng)直接轉化為(wei)電(dian)(dian)能(neng)。不論(lun)(lun)是獨立使(shi)用(yong)(yong)還是并網發電(dian)(dian),光(guang)伏發電(dian)(dian)系統(tong)主(zhu)要由太陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)板(ban)(ban)（組(zu)件(jian)）、控(kong)制器和逆變(bian)器三大部(bu)分組(zu)成，它們主(zhu)要由電(dian)(dian)子元器件(jian)構成，不涉及機械(xie)部(bu)件(jian),所以,光(guang)伏發電(dian)(dian)設(she)備極(ji)為(wei)精煉,可靠穩定壽命長(chang)、安裝維護簡便。理論(lun)(lun)上講,光(guang)伏發電(dian)(dian)技術可以用(yong)(yong)于任何需要電(dian)(dian)源的(de)場(chang)合,上至航(hang)天器,下至家用(yong)(yong)電(dian)(dian)源,大到兆瓦級電(dian)(dian)站(zhan),小(xiao)到玩(wan)具(ju),光(guang)伏電(dian)(dian)源無(wu)處不在(zai)。國(guo)產晶體硅電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)效率(lv)(lv)在(zai)10至13%左右(you)，國(guo)外同類(lei)產品效率(lv)(lv)約12至14%。由一個或多個太陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)片組(zu)成的(de)太陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)板(ban)(ban)稱為(wei)光(guang)伏組(zu)件(jian)。

       ;太陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)光伏發電系統由太陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)電池(chi)(chi)組(zu)(zu)、太陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)控制器、蓄電池(chi)(chi)（組(zu)(zu)）組(zu)(zu)成。如(ru)輸出(chu)電源(yuan)為交流(liu)220V或110V，還需要(yao)配置逆變器。各部分的作用為：

      （一）太陽(yang)(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)池(chi)板：太陽(yang)(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)池(chi)板是(shi)太陽(yang)(yang)(yang)能(neng)發電(dian)系統中的核心部分，也是(shi)太陽(yang)(yang)(yang)能(neng)發電(dian)系統中價(jia)值最高的部分。其作(zuo)用是(shi)將太陽(yang)(yang)(yang)的輻射(she)能(neng)力轉換為電(dian)能(neng)，或(huo)送(song)往(wang)蓄電(dian)池(chi)中存儲起來(lai)，或(huo)推動負載工作(zuo)。 

      （二）太陽能(neng)(neng)控制(zhi)(zhi)器：太陽能(neng)(neng)控制(zhi)(zhi)器的(de)作用是控制(zhi)(zhi)整個系統的(de)工作狀態，并對(dui)蓄電(dian)池起到過(guo)(guo)充電(dian)保護(hu)、過(guo)(guo)放電(dian)保護(hu)的(de)作用。在溫差(cha)較大的(de)地方，合格的(de)控制(zhi)(zhi)器還應(ying)具(ju)備溫度補償的(de)功能(neng)(neng)。其他附加功能(neng)(neng)如(ru)光(guang)控開關、時控開關都應(ying)當是控制(zhi)(zhi)器的(de)可選項； 

      （三）蓄電池(chi)：一(yi)般為鉛酸電池(chi)，小微型系統中，也可用鎳氫電池(chi)、鎳鎘電池(chi)或鋰(li)電池(chi)。其作用是在有光照時(shi)將太(tai)陽能電池(chi)板所發出(chu)的(de)電能儲存起來(lai)，到需要的(de)時(shi)候(hou)再釋放出(chu)來(lai)。 

      （四(si)）逆變(bian)器(qi)：太(tai)陽(yang)能的(de)直接輸出一般都是12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為能向220VAC的(de)電(dian)器(qi)提供電(dian)能，需(xu)要將太(tai)陽(yang)能發(fa)電(dian)系統所發(fa)出的(de)直流電(dian)能轉換成(cheng)交流電(dian)能，因(yin)此(ci)需(xu)要使用DC-AC逆變(bian)器(qi)。