太陽(yang)能(neng)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)分(fen)光(guang)(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)和光(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)。不論產銷量、發(fa)(fa)展速度和發(fa)(fa)展前景、光(guang)(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)都(dou)趕(gan)不上(shang)光(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)。可(ke)能(neng)因(yin)光(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)普(pu)及較廣而接(jie)觸(chu)光(guang)(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)較少，通常(chang)民(min)間所說的(de)太陽(yang)能(neng)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)往(wang)往(wang)指(zhi)的(de)就是太陽(yang)能(neng)光(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)，簡稱(cheng)光(guang)(guang)電(dian)(dian)。

       光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發電(dian)(dian)是根(gen)據光(guang)(guang)生伏(fu)(fu)特效(xiao)應原理(li)(li),利(li)用(yong)太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)池將太陽(yang)光(guang)(guang)能(neng)(neng)直接轉化為電(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)。不(bu)論是獨立使用(yong)還是并(bing)網發電(dian)(dian),光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發電(dian)(dian)系(xi)統主(zhu)要(yao)由(you)太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)池板（組件）、控制器(qi)和逆變器(qi)三(san)大部分組成，它們主(zhu)要(yao)由(you)電(dian)(dian)子元器(qi)件構成，不(bu)涉及機械部件,所以,光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發電(dian)(dian)設備極(ji)為精煉,可(ke)靠穩定壽命長、安裝維(wei)護簡便(bian)。理(li)(li)論上講,光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發電(dian)(dian)技術可(ke)以用(yong)于任何需要(yao)電(dian)(dian)源的場合,上至(zhi)航天器(qi),下至(zhi)家(jia)用(yong)電(dian)(dian)源,大到兆(zhao)瓦(wa)級電(dian)(dian)站,小到玩(wan)具,光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)電(dian)(dian)源無處不(bu)在。國(guo)產晶體硅(gui)電(dian)(dian)池效(xiao)率(lv)在10至(zhi)13%左右，國(guo)外同類產品(pin)效(xiao)率(lv)約12至(zhi)14%。由(you)一個(ge)或多(duo)個(ge)太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)池片組成的太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)池板稱為光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)組件。

       太(tai)陽(yang)能光伏發電(dian)系統(tong)由太(tai)陽(yang)能電(dian)池組、太(tai)陽(yang)能控(kong)制(zhi)器(qi)、蓄電(dian)池（組）組成。如輸出電(dian)源為交流220V或110V，還需要(yao)配置逆變器(qi)。各(ge)部分(fen)的(de)作用為：

      （一）太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)板：太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)板是(shi)太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)系(xi)統(tong)中(zhong)的核心部(bu)(bu)分(fen)，也是(shi)太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)系(xi)統(tong)中(zhong)價值最高的部(bu)(bu)分(fen)。其(qi)作用是(shi)將太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)的輻射能(neng)(neng)力轉換為電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)，或(huo)(huo)送往蓄電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)中(zhong)存儲起來，或(huo)(huo)推動負載工作。 

      （二(er)）太陽能(neng)控(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)：太陽能(neng)控(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)的作用(yong)是控(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)整個系統的工作狀態，并對蓄電(dian)池起(qi)到(dao)過充電(dian)保(bao)護、過放電(dian)保(bao)護的作用(yong)。在溫差(cha)較大的地方，合(he)格的控(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)還應(ying)具備(bei)溫度補償的功能(neng)。其他附加功能(neng)如光控(kong)開(kai)關、時(shi)控(kong)開(kai)關都應(ying)當(dang)是控(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)的可選項； 

      （三）蓄電(dian)池(chi)：一(yi)般為鉛(qian)酸電(dian)池(chi)，小微型系統中，也(ye)可用鎳氫電(dian)池(chi)、鎳鎘(ge)電(dian)池(chi)或鋰電(dian)池(chi)。其作(zuo)用是(shi)在有光照(zhao)時(shi)將太陽能電(dian)池(chi)板所發出(chu)的電(dian)能儲存起來，到需要的時(shi)候再釋(shi)放出(chu)來。 

      （四）逆變(bian)器：太(tai)陽能(neng)的直(zhi)接輸出一般(ban)都是(shi)12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為能(neng)向220VAC的電器提供電能(neng)，需要(yao)(yao)將太(tai)陽能(neng)發電系(xi)統所發出的直(zhi)流電能(neng)轉換(huan)成(cheng)交流電能(neng)，因(yin)此需要(yao)(yao)使用DC-AC逆變(bian)器。