太(tai)(tai)陽能發(fa)電分(fen)光(guang)(guang)(guang)熱發(fa)電和(he)光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)電。不論產銷(xiao)量、發(fa)展速度(du)和(he)發(fa)展前景、光(guang)(guang)(guang)熱發(fa)電都趕不上光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)電。可能因光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)電普及較(jiao)廣而接觸光(guang)(guang)(guang)熱發(fa)電較(jiao)少，通(tong)常民(min)間所說(shuo)的太(tai)(tai)陽能發(fa)電往往指(zhi)的就是太(tai)(tai)陽能光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)電，簡稱光(guang)(guang)(guang)電。

       光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發電(dian)(dian)是根(gen)據光(guang)(guang)(guang)生伏(fu)(fu)特(te)效(xiao)應原理,利用太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)將太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)(yang)光(guang)(guang)(guang)能(neng)直接(jie)轉化為(wei)電(dian)(dian)能(neng)。不(bu)論是獨立使用還是并網(wang)發電(dian)(dian),光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發電(dian)(dian)系統主要(yao)由(you)太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)板(ban)（組(zu)(zu)件(jian)）、控制器(qi)和逆(ni)變器(qi)三大部分組(zu)(zu)成，它們主要(yao)由(you)電(dian)(dian)子元(yuan)器(qi)件(jian)構成，不(bu)涉及機械部件(jian),所以,光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發電(dian)(dian)設備極為(wei)精煉,可(ke)靠穩定壽命長、安裝(zhuang)維護簡便。理論上講,光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發電(dian)(dian)技(ji)術可(ke)以用于任何需(xu)要(yao)電(dian)(dian)源的(de)場合,上至航天器(qi),下至家用電(dian)(dian)源,大到(dao)兆瓦級電(dian)(dian)站(zhan),小到(dao)玩具(ju),光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)電(dian)(dian)源無處不(bu)在。國產晶體硅(gui)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)效(xiao)率在10至13%左右(you)，國外同類(lei)產品效(xiao)率約12至14%。由(you)一個或多個太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)片組(zu)(zu)成的(de)太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)板(ban)稱為(wei)光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)組(zu)(zu)件(jian)。

       太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能光伏發電系(xi)統由太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能電池組、太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能控制器、蓄電池（組）組成(cheng)。如輸出電源為交流(liu)220V或110V，還需要配置逆(ni)變(bian)器。各部(bu)分的作用為：

      （一）太(tai)陽(yang)能電(dian)池板(ban)：太(tai)陽(yang)能電(dian)池板(ban)是(shi)太(tai)陽(yang)能發電(dian)系統中的(de)核心部分，也是(shi)太(tai)陽(yang)能發電(dian)系統中價值最高的(de)部分。其作用是(shi)將太(tai)陽(yang)的(de)輻射能力轉換為(wei)電(dian)能，或送往(wang)蓄電(dian)池中存儲起(qi)來，或推動負載工作。 

      （二）太陽(yang)能(neng)控(kong)(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)(qi)：太陽(yang)能(neng)控(kong)(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)(qi)的(de)(de)作(zuo)用是(shi)(shi)控(kong)(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)整個系統的(de)(de)工作(zuo)狀態(tai)，并對(dui)蓄電池起到過(guo)充電保(bao)護、過(guo)放(fang)電保(bao)護的(de)(de)作(zuo)用。在溫差較大的(de)(de)地方，合格(ge)的(de)(de)控(kong)(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)(qi)還應具備(bei)溫度(du)補償的(de)(de)功(gong)能(neng)。其(qi)他附加功(gong)能(neng)如光控(kong)(kong)(kong)開(kai)關、時控(kong)(kong)(kong)開(kai)關都應當是(shi)(shi)控(kong)(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)(qi)的(de)(de)可(ke)選項； 

      （三）蓄電(dian)(dian)池(chi)：一般(ban)為鉛酸電(dian)(dian)池(chi)，小微型系(xi)統(tong)中，也可(ke)用(yong)鎳氫(qing)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)、鎳鎘電(dian)(dian)池(chi)或鋰電(dian)(dian)池(chi)。其(qi)作用(yong)是在有(you)光(guang)照(zhao)時將太(tai)陽(yang)能電(dian)(dian)池(chi)板所(suo)發(fa)出(chu)(chu)的電(dian)(dian)能儲存(cun)起來，到需要的時候(hou)再釋放出(chu)(chu)來。 

      （四(si)）逆變器(qi)：太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)的直接輸(shu)出一般都是12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為(wei)能(neng)(neng)向220VAC的電(dian)器(qi)提供電(dian)能(neng)(neng)，需要將太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)發電(dian)系統所發出的直流(liu)電(dian)能(neng)(neng)轉換成交流(liu)電(dian)能(neng)(neng)，因此需要使用DC-AC逆變器(qi)。