太陽(yang)能發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)分(fen)光(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)和(he)(he)光(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)。不論產銷量(liang)、發(fa)(fa)(fa)展速(su)度和(he)(he)發(fa)(fa)(fa)展前景、光(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)都趕不上光(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)。可能因光(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)普及較廣而接觸光(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)較少，通常民間所說的太陽(yang)能發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)往往指的就是太陽(yang)能光(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)，簡稱光(guang)電(dian)(dian)。

       光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)是(shi)根據光(guang)(guang)生伏(fu)特效應原理(li),利用太陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)將太陽(yang)(yang)光(guang)(guang)能(neng)直接轉(zhuan)化(hua)為(wei)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)能(neng)。不論是(shi)獨立使用還(huan)是(shi)并網發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)系(xi)統(tong)主要由(you)(you)太陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)板(ban)(ban)（組(zu)件(jian)）、控制器(qi)和逆變器(qi)三(san)大部分組(zu)成(cheng)，它們(men)主要由(you)(you)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)子元(yuan)器(qi)件(jian)構(gou)成(cheng)，不涉及機械部件(jian),所以(yi),光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)設備極為(wei)精煉(lian),可靠穩定壽命(ming)長、安(an)裝維護(hu)簡便。理(li)論上講,光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)技術(shu)可以(yi)用于任何需(xu)要電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源的(de)場(chang)合,上至航(hang)天器(qi),下至家(jia)用電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源,大到(dao)(dao)兆瓦級電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)站,小到(dao)(dao)玩具,光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源無(wu)處不在。國產晶體硅(gui)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)效率在10至13%左(zuo)右，國外同類產品效率約12至14%。由(you)(you)一個或(huo)多個太陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)片組(zu)成(cheng)的(de)太陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)板(ban)(ban)稱為(wei)光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)組(zu)件(jian)。

     ;  太(tai)陽能光(guang)伏發電(dian)系統由(you)太(tai)陽能電(dian)池組(zu)、太(tai)陽能控(kong)制器、蓄電(dian)池（組(zu)）組(zu)成。如輸出電(dian)源為交流220V或(huo)110V，還需要配置逆變器。各部分的作用(yong)為：

      （一）太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)板：太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)板是(shi)太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)系統中的核心部(bu)分，也是(shi)太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)系統中價值(zhi)最高的部(bu)分。其作用是(shi)將太陽(yang)的輻射能(neng)(neng)力(li)轉換(huan)為電(dian)(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)，或送往(wang)蓄電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)中存儲起來，或推動負載(zai)工作。 

      （二）太陽能控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)：太陽能控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)的作用是控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)整個系統(tong)的工作狀態，并對(dui)蓄電池起到過充電保護(hu)、過放電保護(hu)的作用。在(zai)溫(wen)差較大的地方，合(he)格(ge)的控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)還(huan)應具備溫(wen)度(du)補償的功(gong)能。其他附加(jia)功(gong)能如光控(kong)(kong)開關(guan)、時(shi)控(kong)(kong)開關(guan)都應當是控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)的可選項； 

      （三(san)）蓄電(dian)(dian)池(chi)：一般為鉛酸電(dian)(dian)池(chi)，小微型系統中，也可用鎳氫電(dian)(dian)池(chi)、鎳鎘電(dian)(dian)池(chi)或鋰電(dian)(dian)池(chi)。其作(zuo)用是在有光照時將太陽能電(dian)(dian)池(chi)板所發出的(de)電(dian)(dian)能儲存起來，到(dao)需要的(de)時候再(zai)釋放出來。 

      （四）逆(ni)變器：太陽(yang)能(neng)的(de)直接輸出(chu)一般都是12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為能(neng)向(xiang)220VAC的(de)電(dian)器提(ti)供(gong)電(dian)能(neng)，需要(yao)(yao)將(jiang)太陽(yang)能(neng)發電(dian)系統所(suo)發出(chu)的(de)直流電(dian)能(neng)轉換成交流電(dian)能(neng)，因此需要(yao)(yao)使用(yong)DC-AC逆(ni)變器。