太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)分(fen)光(guang)熱發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)和光(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)。不論產銷量、發(fa)(fa)展速度和發(fa)(fa)展前景、光(guang)熱發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)都趕不上(shang)光(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)。可(ke)能因光(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)普及較廣而接觸光(guang)熱發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)較少(shao)，通常民間所說的太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)往往指的就(jiu)是太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能光(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)，簡稱光(guang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)。

       光伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)是(shi)(shi)根(gen)據(ju)光生(sheng)伏(fu)特效(xiao)應原理,利用太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池將太(tai)陽(yang)光能(neng)直(zhi)接轉化為(wei)電(dian)(dian)能(neng)。不論是(shi)(shi)獨立使用還是(shi)(shi)并網發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian),光伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)系(xi)統主要(yao)(yao)由(you)太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池板（組件）、控制器和逆變(bian)器三大部分組成，它(ta)們(men)主要(yao)(yao)由(you)電(dian)(dian)子元器件構成，不涉及機械部件,所以,光伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)設備極為(wei)精煉,可靠穩定壽命(ming)長、安(an)裝維護簡便。理論上講,光伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)技術可以用于(yu)任何需要(yao)(yao)電(dian)(dian)源(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)的(de)場(chang)合,上至(zhi)(zhi)航(hang)天器,下至(zhi)(zhi)家用電(dian)(dian)源(yuan)(yuan)(yuan),大到(dao)兆瓦級電(dian)(dian)站,小到(dao)玩(wan)具,光伏(fu)電(dian)(dian)源(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)無(wu)處不在。國產(chan)晶(jing)體硅電(dian)(dian)池效(xiao)率在10至(zhi)(zhi)13%左右(you)，國外同類產(chan)品效(xiao)率約12至(zhi)(zhi)14%。由(you)一個或多個太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池片(pian)組成的(de)太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池板稱為(wei)光伏(fu)組件。

       太陽能光伏(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)系(xi)統由太陽能電(dian)(dian)池組(zu)、太陽能控(kong)制器(qi)(qi)、蓄電(dian)(dian)池（組(zu)）組(zu)成。如輸出電(dian)(dian)源為交流220V或(huo)110V，還需要(yao)配置(zhi)逆(ni)變器(qi)(qi)。各部分的作用(yong)為：

      （一）太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能電(dian)池(chi)板：太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能電(dian)池(chi)板是(shi)太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能發電(dian)系(xi)統中的(de)核(he)心部分(fen)，也是(shi)太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能發電(dian)系(xi)統中價值最高的(de)部分(fen)。其作(zuo)用是(shi)將太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)(yang)的(de)輻射(she)能力轉(zhuan)換為電(dian)能，或(huo)送往(wang)蓄電(dian)池(chi)中存儲起來，或(huo)推動負載工作(zuo)。 

      （二(er)）太(tai)陽(yang)能控(kong)(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)：太(tai)陽(yang)能控(kong)(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)的(de)(de)作(zuo)用是控(kong)(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)整個系(xi)統(tong)的(de)(de)工作(zuo)狀(zhuang)態，并(bing)對蓄(xu)電(dian)(dian)池起(qi)到過(guo)充電(dian)(dian)保(bao)護、過(guo)放電(dian)(dian)保(bao)護的(de)(de)作(zuo)用。在溫(wen)差較大的(de)(de)地(di)方，合(he)格(ge)的(de)(de)控(kong)(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)還應具(ju)備溫(wen)度補(bu)償的(de)(de)功(gong)能。其他附加功(gong)能如光控(kong)(kong)(kong)開關、時控(kong)(kong)(kong)開關都應當(dang)是控(kong)(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)的(de)(de)可選項； 

      （三）蓄電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)：一般為鉛酸(suan)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)，小微型(xing)系(xi)統中，也可用(yong)(yong)鎳氫電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)、鎳鎘電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)或鋰電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)。其作用(yong)(yong)是在有光照時將太陽能(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)板(ban)所發(fa)出的電(dian)(dian)(dian)能(neng)儲(chu)存(cun)起來，到需要(yao)的時候(hou)再(zai)釋放出來。 

      （四）逆變器(qi)：太(tai)陽能(neng)的直接輸出一般都(dou)是12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為(wei)能(neng)向220VAC的電器(qi)提供電能(neng)，需(xu)要將太(tai)陽能(neng)發電系統所發出的直流電能(neng)轉換成交(jiao)流電能(neng)，因此需(xu)要使用DC-AC逆變器(qi)。