太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)發(fa)電(dian)分光(guang)(guang)熱(re)(re)發(fa)電(dian)和光(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)。不(bu)論(lun)產(chan)銷(xiao)量、發(fa)展(zhan)速度和發(fa)展(zhan)前(qian)景、光(guang)(guang)熱(re)(re)發(fa)電(dian)都(dou)趕不(bu)上(shang)光(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)。可能(neng)(neng)(neng)因光(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)普及較廣(guang)而接觸光(guang)(guang)熱(re)(re)發(fa)電(dian)較少，通常民間(jian)所說的太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)發(fa)電(dian)往往指的就是太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)光(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)，簡稱(cheng)光(guang)(guang)電(dian)。

       光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)是根據光(guang)生伏(fu)特效(xiao)(xiao)應(ying)原理(li),利用(yong)太(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)將(jiang)太(tai)陽光(guang)能(neng)(neng)直接轉化為(wei)(wei)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)。不論(lun)是獨立使用(yong)還(huan)是并網發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)系統主(zhu)要由太(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)板(ban)（組件(jian)(jian)）、控制器和逆(ni)變器三大部分組成(cheng)，它們主(zhu)要由電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)子元器件(jian)(jian)構(gou)成(cheng)，不涉及機械部件(jian)(jian),所以,光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)設備極為(wei)(wei)精煉(lian),可(ke)靠穩定壽命長、安裝維護簡(jian)便。理(li)論(lun)上講,光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)技術可(ke)以用(yong)于任何(he)需要電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源(yuan)的場合(he),上至航天器,下至家用(yong)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源(yuan),大到(dao)兆瓦級(ji)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)站,小到(dao)玩具,光(guang)伏(fu)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源(yuan)無處(chu)不在。國產晶體硅電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)效(xiao)(xiao)率(lv)(lv)在10至13%左右，國外同類產品效(xiao)(xiao)率(lv)(lv)約12至14%。由一個(ge)或多個(ge)太(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)片組成(cheng)的太(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)板(ban)稱為(wei)(wei)光(guang)伏(fu)組件(jian)(jian)。

       太陽(yang)能(neng)光(guang)伏發電系統由太陽(yang)能(neng)電池(chi)組、太陽(yang)能(neng)控(kong)制器(qi)、蓄電池(chi)（組）組成。如(ru)輸出電源為(wei)交流220V或110V，還需要配置(zhi)逆變器(qi)。各部分的作用(yong)為(wei)：

 ;     （一(yi)）太(tai)陽(yang)能電(dian)(dian)池(chi)板：太(tai)陽(yang)能電(dian)(dian)池(chi)板是(shi)(shi)太(tai)陽(yang)能發(fa)電(dian)(dian)系統中(zhong)(zhong)的(de)核心部分，也是(shi)(shi)太(tai)陽(yang)能發(fa)電(dian)(dian)系統中(zhong)(zhong)價(jia)值最高的(de)部分。其作用是(shi)(shi)將太(tai)陽(yang)的(de)輻射(she)能力轉換為電(dian)(dian)能，或送往蓄電(dian)(dian)池(chi)中(zhong)(zhong)存儲起來，或推動負(fu)載工作。 

      （二）太陽能控制(zhi)器：太陽能控制(zhi)器的(de)作(zuo)(zuo)用是控制(zhi)整個系統(tong)的(de)工作(zuo)(zuo)狀態，并對(dui)蓄電(dian)池起到過充電(dian)保護、過放電(dian)保護的(de)作(zuo)(zuo)用。在(zai)溫差(cha)較大的(de)地方，合格的(de)控制(zhi)器還應具備溫度補償(chang)的(de)功能。其他附加功能如光控開關、時控開關都應當是控制(zhi)器的(de)可選項(xiang)； 

      （三）蓄電(dian)(dian)池(chi)：一般為鉛酸電(dian)(dian)池(chi)，小微(wei)型系統中(zhong)，也可用鎳氫(qing)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)、鎳鎘電(dian)(dian)池(chi)或鋰(li)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)。其作用是(shi)在有光照(zhao)時將太陽能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)板所發出的電(dian)(dian)能(neng)儲(chu)存起來，到(dao)需要的時候再(zai)釋放出來。 

      （四）逆(ni)變器：太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)的直(zhi)接輸(shu)出一般都是(shi)12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為能(neng)(neng)(neng)向(xiang)220VAC的電(dian)器提供電(dian)能(neng)(neng)(neng)，需(xu)要將太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)發(fa)電(dian)系(xi)統所(suo)發(fa)出的直(zhi)流電(dian)能(neng)(neng)(neng)轉(zhuan)換(huan)成交流電(dian)能(neng)(neng)(neng)，因(yin)此需(xu)要使用DC-AC逆(ni)變器。