太陽能(neng)(neng)發電(dian)分(fen)光(guang)(guang)熱(re)發電(dian)和光(guang)(guang)伏發電(dian)。不(bu)論產銷量(liang)、發展速度和發展前景(jing)、光(guang)(guang)熱(re)發電(dian)都趕不(bu)上(shang)光(guang)(guang)伏發電(dian)。可能(neng)(neng)因(yin)光(guang)(guang)伏發電(dian)普及較(jiao)廣(guang)而接(jie)觸光(guang)(guang)熱(re)發電(dian)較(jiao)少，通常(chang)民間(jian)所說的太陽能(neng)(neng)發電(dian)往(wang)往(wang)指的就是太陽能(neng)(neng)光(guang)(guang)伏發電(dian)，簡稱光(guang)(guang)電(dian)。

       光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)是(shi)根據光(guang)(guang)生伏(fu)特(te)效(xiao)應原(yuan)理,利用(yong)(yong)太陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池將太陽(yang)(yang)光(guang)(guang)能(neng)直(zhi)接轉化為(wei)電(dian)(dian)能(neng)。不(bu)論(lun)是(shi)獨立使用(yong)(yong)還是(shi)并網發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian),光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)系統主要由太陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池板(ban)（組(zu)件(jian)）、控制器(qi)和逆變器(qi)三大部分組(zu)成，它(ta)們主要由電(dian)(dian)子元器(qi)件(jian)構成，不(bu)涉及機械部件(jian),所以,光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)設備極為(wei)精(jing)煉,可靠穩定壽命(ming)長、安裝維護簡便(bian)。理論(lun)上講,光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)技術可以用(yong)(yong)于任何需要電(dian)(dian)源的場合,上至(zhi)(zhi)航(hang)天(tian)器(qi),下至(zhi)(zhi)家用(yong)(yong)電(dian)(dian)源,大到兆瓦級(ji)電(dian)(dian)站,小(xiao)到玩具(ju),光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)電(dian)(dian)源無處不(bu)在(zai)。國(guo)產(chan)晶(jing)體硅(gui)電(dian)(dian)池效(xiao)率(lv)在(zai)10至(zhi)(zhi)13%左右，國(guo)外(wai)同類產(chan)品效(xiao)率(lv)約12至(zhi)(zhi)14%。由一個或多(duo)個太陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池片(pian)組(zu)成的太陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池板(ban)稱為(wei)光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)組(zu)件(jian)。

       太(tai)陽能(neng)光(guang)伏發電系統由太(tai)陽能(neng)電池組(zu)、太(tai)陽能(neng)控制(zhi)器(qi)、蓄電池（組(zu)）組(zu)成。如輸出電源為(wei)交流220V或110V，還需要(yao)配置逆(ni)變器(qi)。各部分(fen)的作用為(wei)：

      （一）太(tai)(tai)(tai)(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)池(chi)(chi)板：太(tai)(tai)(tai)(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)池(chi)(chi)板是太(tai)(tai)(tai)(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)發電(dian)系(xi)統中的(de)核心部分，也是太(tai)(tai)(tai)(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)發電(dian)系(xi)統中價值(zhi)最(zui)高的(de)部分。其作用是將太(tai)(tai)(tai)(tai)陽(yang)(yang)的(de)輻射能(neng)力轉換為電(dian)能(neng)，或送往蓄電(dian)池(chi)(chi)中存(cun)儲起來，或推動負載工作。 

      （二）太(tai)陽能(neng)控制(zhi)器(qi)：太(tai)陽能(neng)控制(zhi)器(qi)的(de)作用是(shi)控制(zhi)整個系(xi)統的(de)工(gong)作狀態，并對蓄電(dian)(dian)(dian)池起到過充(chong)電(dian)(dian)(dian)保(bao)護(hu)、過放電(dian)(dian)(dian)保(bao)護(hu)的(de)作用。在(zai)溫差較大(da)的(de)地方，合(he)格的(de)控制(zhi)器(qi)還(huan)應(ying)具(ju)備溫度補償的(de)功(gong)(gong)能(neng)。其(qi)他附(fu)加(jia)功(gong)(gong)能(neng)如光控開關、時控開關都應(ying)當是(shi)控制(zhi)器(qi)的(de)可選項； 

      （三）蓄電池：一般(ban)為鉛酸電池，小微型(xing)系(xi)統中(zhong)，也可用(yong)鎳氫電池、鎳鎘(ge)電池或鋰電池。其作用(yong)是(shi)在有光照時將太陽能電池板所發(fa)出的電能儲存(cun)起來，到需要的時候再釋放出來。 

      （四）逆變器(qi)(qi)：太(tai)陽能(neng)的(de)直接輸出一(yi)般都是12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為能(neng)向220VAC的(de)電器(qi)(qi)提供電能(neng)，需(xu)要將太(tai)陽能(neng)發電系(xi)統(tong)所(suo)發出的(de)直流(liu)電能(neng)轉換(huan)成交流(liu)電能(neng)，因此需(xu)要使(shi)用DC-AC逆變器(qi)(qi)。