太陽能發(fa)電(dian)分光(guang)熱(re)發(fa)電(dian)和(he)光(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)。不(bu)論產銷量(liang)、發(fa)展速度和(he)發(fa)展前景、光(guang)熱(re)發(fa)電(dian)都(dou)趕(gan)不(bu)上光(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)。可能因光(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)普及(ji)較廣(guang)而接觸光(guang)熱(re)發(fa)電(dian)較少，通常民(min)間(jian)所說的太陽能發(fa)電(dian)往往指的就是(shi)太陽能光(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)，簡稱(cheng)光(guang)電(dian)。

       光(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)是根據光(guang)(guang)生伏特效(xiao)應原理(li),利用太(tai)(tai)(tai)(tai)陽能電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)將太(tai)(tai)(tai)(tai)陽光(guang)(guang)能直(zhi)接轉化(hua)為(wei)(wei)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)能。不(bu)論是獨立(li)使用還是并網發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),光(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)系統主要(yao)由太(tai)(tai)(tai)(tai)陽能電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)板(ban)（組(zu)(zu)件）、控制器和逆變器三大部(bu)分組(zu)(zu)成(cheng)，它們主要(yao)由電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)子元器件構成(cheng)，不(bu)涉及機(ji)械部(bu)件,所以(yi)(yi),光(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)設備(bei)極為(wei)(wei)精(jing)煉,可靠穩定壽命長、安裝維護簡便(bian)。理(li)論上講,光(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)技術可以(yi)(yi)用于(yu)任何(he)需要(yao)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源的場合,上至(zhi)(zhi)航天(tian)器,下至(zhi)(zhi)家用電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源,大到兆瓦級電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)站,小到玩具,光(guang)(guang)伏電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源無(wu)處不(bu)在。國產(chan)晶體(ti)硅(gui)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)效(xiao)率(lv)在10至(zhi)(zhi)13%左右(you)，國外同類產(chan)品(pin)效(xiao)率(lv)約12至(zhi)(zhi)14%。由一個或多個太(tai)(tai)(tai)(tai)陽能電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)片組(zu)(zu)成(cheng)的太(tai)(tai)(tai)(tai)陽能電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)板(ban)稱為(wei)(wei)光(guang)(guang)伏組(zu)(zu)件。

       太(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)光伏發電(dian)(dian)系統由太(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)池組(zu)、太(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)控制器、蓄(xu)電(dian)(dian)池（組(zu)）組(zu)成。如輸出電(dian)(dian)源為交流220V或110V，還需(xu)要配置逆變器。各部分的作用為：

      （一）太(tai)陽能(neng)電池板(ban)：太(tai)陽能(neng)電池板(ban)是太(tai)陽能(neng)發電系統中的(de)核(he)心(xin)部分，也是太(tai)陽能(neng)發電系統中價(jia)值最高的(de)部分。其作用(yong)是將太(tai)陽的(de)輻射能(neng)力(li)轉換為電能(neng)，或(huo)送往(wang)蓄(xu)電池中存儲起來，或(huo)推(tui)動負載工(gong)作。 

      （二）太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)控(kong)制器(qi)：太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)控(kong)制器(qi)的(de)(de)(de)作用(yong)是(shi)控(kong)制整個系統的(de)(de)(de)工作狀態，并對蓄電(dian)池起到過充電(dian)保護、過放電(dian)保護的(de)(de)(de)作用(yong)。在溫差較大的(de)(de)(de)地方(fang)，合格的(de)(de)(de)控(kong)制器(qi)還應具備溫度補償的(de)(de)(de)功能(neng)(neng)。其他(ta)附加功能(neng)(neng)如(ru)光(guang)控(kong)開關(guan)、時控(kong)開關(guan)都應當是(shi)控(kong)制器(qi)的(de)(de)(de)可選項； 

      （三）蓄電(dian)池(chi)(chi)：一般(ban)為鉛酸電(dian)池(chi)(chi)，小微型系統(tong)中，也可用(yong)鎳氫電(dian)池(chi)(chi)、鎳鎘(ge)電(dian)池(chi)(chi)或鋰電(dian)池(chi)(chi)。其作用(yong)是在有光照時將(jiang)太陽能(neng)電(dian)池(chi)(chi)板所發出的(de)電(dian)能(neng)儲存(cun)起來，到需(xu)要(yao)的(de)時候再釋(shi)放(fang)出來。 

      （四）逆(ni)變器：太陽能(neng)(neng)(neng)的直接輸出一般都(dou)是12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為能(neng)(neng)(neng)向220VAC的電(dian)器提供電(dian)能(neng)(neng)(neng)，需要將太陽能(neng)(neng)(neng)發電(dian)系(xi)統所發出的直流電(dian)能(neng)(neng)(neng)轉(zhuan)換成交流電(dian)能(neng)(neng)(neng)，因此需要使(shi)用DC-AC逆(ni)變器。