太(tai)(tai)陽能發(fa)電分光(guang)熱(re)發(fa)電和(he)光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)電。不論產銷量(liang)、發(fa)展(zhan)速(su)度(du)和(he)發(fa)展(zhan)前景、光(guang)熱(re)發(fa)電都趕不上光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)電。可(ke)能因光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)電普及(ji)較廣而接(jie)觸(chu)光(guang)熱(re)發(fa)電較少(shao)，通常(chang)民間所(suo)說的太(tai)(tai)陽能發(fa)電往(wang)往(wang)指的就是(shi)太(tai)(tai)陽能光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)電，簡稱光(guang)電。

       光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)是(shi)(shi)根據光(guang)生伏(fu)特效應原理,利用(yong)太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)將太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)光(guang)能(neng)直接轉化為(wei)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)能(neng)。不(bu)論是(shi)(shi)獨立使用(yong)還(huan)是(shi)(shi)并(bing)網(wang)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)系(xi)統主要(yao)(yao)由太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)板（組件）、控制器和逆變器三大(da)部分組成，它們(men)主要(yao)(yao)由電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)子元器件構成，不(bu)涉及機械部件,所以(yi)(yi),光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)設(she)備(bei)極為(wei)精煉,可靠穩定壽(shou)命(ming)長、安裝(zhuang)維(wei)護簡便。理論上(shang)講(jiang),光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)技術(shu)可以(yi)(yi)用(yong)于任何需要(yao)(yao)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源(yuan)(yuan)的場(chang)合(he),上(shang)至(zhi)航天(tian)器,下(xia)至(zhi)家用(yong)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源(yuan)(yuan),大(da)到(dao)兆瓦級電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)站,小到(dao)玩具,光(guang)伏(fu)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源(yuan)(yuan)無(wu)處不(bu)在。國(guo)產晶體硅(gui)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)效率在10至(zhi)13%左右，國(guo)外同類產品效率約(yue)12至(zhi)14%。由一(yi)個或多個太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)片組成的太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)板稱為(wei)光(guang)伏(fu)組件。

       太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)光伏(fu)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)系(xi)統由太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)組(zu)、太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)控(kong)制器、蓄電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)（組(zu)）組(zu)成(cheng)。如(ru)輸出電(dian)(dian)(dian)源為(wei)交流220V或(huo)110V，還需要配置(zhi)逆變器。各部分的作用為(wei)：

      （一）太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)板(ban)：太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)板(ban)是(shi)太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)發電(dian)(dian)系統(tong)中(zhong)的核心(xin)部分，也是(shi)太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)發電(dian)(dian)系統(tong)中(zhong)價值最高的部分。其作用是(shi)將(jiang)太陽(yang)的輻(fu)射能(neng)(neng)力轉換為電(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)，或送往蓄電(dian)(dian)池(chi)中(zhong)存儲起來，或推動負載工作。 

      （二）太(tai)陽能控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)：太(tai)陽能控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)的作(zuo)用是(shi)控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)整個系統的工作(zuo)狀(zhuang)態，并對(dui)蓄電(dian)池起到過充電(dian)保(bao)護(hu)、過放電(dian)保(bao)護(hu)的作(zuo)用。在溫差(cha)較大的地方，合格(ge)的控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)還(huan)應具備(bei)溫度補(bu)償的功能。其他(ta)附加功能如(ru)光控(kong)(kong)開(kai)關、時(shi)控(kong)(kong)開(kai)關都應當是(shi)控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)的可選(xuan)項(xiang)； 

      （三）蓄電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)：一般(ban)為(wei)鉛酸電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)，小微型(xing)系統中，也可用鎳氫電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)、鎳鎘電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)或(huo)鋰電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)。其作(zuo)用是在有(you)光照時(shi)將太陽能電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)板所發出(chu)的(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)能儲存起來(lai)，到需要的(de)時(shi)候再釋(shi)放出(chu)來(lai)。 

      （四(si)）逆變(bian)器(qi)(qi)：太(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)的直(zhi)接輸(shu)出(chu)一般都(dou)是12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為能(neng)(neng)向220VAC的電(dian)(dian)器(qi)(qi)提(ti)供電(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)，需(xu)要(yao)將(jiang)太(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)發電(dian)(dian)系統所發出(chu)的直(zhi)流電(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)轉換成(cheng)交流電(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)，因此需(xu)要(yao)使用DC-AC逆變(bian)器(qi)(qi)。