太陽能(neng)(neng)發(fa)電(dian)分光(guang)熱發(fa)電(dian)和光(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)。不(bu)(bu)論產(chan)銷量(liang)、發(fa)展速(su)度和發(fa)展前景、光(guang)熱發(fa)電(dian)都趕不(bu)(bu)上(shang)光(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)。可(ke)能(neng)(neng)因光(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)普(pu)及較廣(guang)而接(jie)觸光(guang)熱發(fa)電(dian)較少，通常(chang)民間所說的太陽能(neng)(neng)發(fa)電(dian)往往指的就是太陽能(neng)(neng)光(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)，簡(jian)稱光(guang)電(dian)。

       光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)是根據光(guang)(guang)生伏(fu)特效應(ying)原理,利用太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)將太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)光(guang)(guang)能直接轉化為電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)能。不(bu)論是獨立使用還是并網發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)系(xi)統主要(yao)由(you)太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)板（組件(jian)(jian)）、控(kong)制器和逆變器三(san)大部(bu)分組成，它們主要(yao)由(you)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)子元器件(jian)(jian)構(gou)成，不(bu)涉及(ji)機械部(bu)件(jian)(jian),所以,光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)設備(bei)極(ji)為精煉,可靠(kao)穩(wen)定壽命長、安裝維(wei)護簡便。理論上講,光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)技術(shu)可以用于(yu)任何需要(yao)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源的(de)場合,上至(zhi)航天器,下至(zhi)家用電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源,大到(dao)兆(zhao)瓦級電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)站,小到(dao)玩(wan)具,光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源無(wu)處不(bu)在(zai)。國產晶體硅電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)效率(lv)在(zai)10至(zhi)13%左右，國外(wai)同(tong)類產品(pin)效率(lv)約12至(zhi)14%。由(you)一個(ge)或多個(ge)太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)片組成的(de)太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)板稱為光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)組件(jian)(jian)。

       太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)光伏(fu)發(fa)電系(xi)統由太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電池組、太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)控制器(qi)、蓄電池（組）組成(cheng)。如(ru)輸出電源為交流(liu)220V或(huo)110V，還需要配置逆變器(qi)。各部分的(de)作用為：

      （一）太(tai)(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池板(ban)：太(tai)(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池板(ban)是太(tai)(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)發電(dian)(dian)系(xi)統中的核心部分，也是太(tai)(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)發電(dian)(dian)系(xi)統中價值最高的部分。其作用是將太(tai)(tai)(tai)陽的輻射能(neng)力轉換為電(dian)(dian)能(neng)，或送往蓄(xu)電(dian)(dian)池中存儲起來，或推動(dong)負載工作。 

      （二）太(tai)陽能控制器(qi)：太(tai)陽能控制器(qi)的(de)(de)(de)作用是控制整個系統的(de)(de)(de)工作狀態，并(bing)對(dui)蓄電池起到(dao)過(guo)(guo)充電保護(hu)、過(guo)(guo)放電保護(hu)的(de)(de)(de)作用。在溫(wen)差(cha)較大的(de)(de)(de)地方(fang)，合格(ge)的(de)(de)(de)控制器(qi)還應具(ju)備溫(wen)度補償的(de)(de)(de)功(gong)能。其他(ta)附加功(gong)能如(ru)光控開關、時控開關都應當(dang)是控制器(qi)的(de)(de)(de)可(ke)選項(xiang)； 

      （三）蓄電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)：一般(ban)為鉛酸電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)，小(xiao)微型系(xi)統中(zhong)，也可用(yong)鎳(nie)氫電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)、鎳(nie)鎘(ge)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)或鋰(li)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)。其作(zuo)用(yong)是(shi)在有光(guang)照(zhao)時(shi)將(jiang)太陽能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)板所發出的電(dian)(dian)能(neng)儲存起來，到(dao)需要的時(shi)候再釋放出來。 

      （四）逆(ni)變(bian)器(qi)：太(tai)陽(yang)能的直接(jie)輸出一般都是12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為能向220VAC的電(dian)(dian)器(qi)提供電(dian)(dian)能，需(xu)要將太(tai)陽(yang)能發(fa)電(dian)(dian)系統(tong)所發(fa)出的直流電(dian)(dian)能轉(zhuan)換成交流電(dian)(dian)能，因此需(xu)要使用DC-AC逆(ni)變(bian)器(qi)。