太(tai)陽(yang)能發電(dian)(dian)分光(guang)(guang)(guang)熱(re)發電(dian)(dian)和(he)光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏發電(dian)(dian)。不論產銷量(liang)、發展速度(du)和(he)發展前(qian)景、光(guang)(guang)(guang)熱(re)發電(dian)(dian)都趕不上光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏發電(dian)(dian)。可能因光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏發電(dian)(dian)普及(ji)較(jiao)廣(guang)而接觸(chu)光(guang)(guang)(guang)熱(re)發電(dian)(dian)較(jiao)少，通(tong)常民(min)間所說的太(tai)陽(yang)能發電(dian)(dian)往往指的就是(shi)太(tai)陽(yang)能光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏發電(dian)(dian)，簡稱光(guang)(guang)(guang)電(dian)(dian)。

       光伏(fu)發電(dian)(dian)是根據光生伏(fu)特效應(ying)原理,利用(yong)(yong)太(tai)(tai)(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)將太(tai)(tai)(tai)陽(yang)(yang)光能(neng)直接(jie)轉化為(wei)(wei)電(dian)(dian)能(neng)。不論是獨立使用(yong)(yong)還是并網發電(dian)(dian),光伏(fu)發電(dian)(dian)系統主(zhu)要由太(tai)(tai)(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)板(ban)（組件(jian)）、控制器和逆變器三(san)大部分組成(cheng)，它們主(zhu)要由電(dian)(dian)子元器件(jian)構成(cheng)，不涉及機械部件(jian),所(suo)以(yi),光伏(fu)發電(dian)(dian)設備極(ji)為(wei)(wei)精煉(lian),可靠穩定(ding)壽命長、安(an)裝維(wei)護簡(jian)便。理論上講(jiang),光伏(fu)發電(dian)(dian)技術可以(yi)用(yong)(yong)于任(ren)何(he)需要電(dian)(dian)源的場合,上至航天器,下至家用(yong)(yong)電(dian)(dian)源,大到(dao)兆(zhao)瓦(wa)級電(dian)(dian)站,小到(dao)玩具(ju),光伏(fu)電(dian)(dian)源無處不在。國(guo)產晶(jing)體硅(gui)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)效率(lv)在10至13%左右，國(guo)外同類產品效率(lv)約12至14%。由一個或多個太(tai)(tai)(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)片組成(cheng)的太(tai)(tai)(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)板(ban)稱為(wei)(wei)光伏(fu)組件(jian)。

       太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)光伏發電(dian)(dian)系(xi)統由太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)組、太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)控(kong)制(zhi)器(qi)、蓄電(dian)(dian)池(chi)（組）組成。如輸出電(dian)(dian)源為交流220V或110V，還需(xu)要配置(zhi)逆變器(qi)。各部分的作(zuo)用為：

      （一）太(tai)陽能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池板(ban)：太(tai)陽能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池板(ban)是太(tai)陽能(neng)發電(dian)(dian)系統中的核心部分(fen)，也(ye)是太(tai)陽能(neng)發電(dian)(dian)系統中價值最高的部分(fen)。其作用(yong)是將太(tai)陽的輻射能(neng)力轉換為電(dian)(dian)能(neng)，或(huo)送往蓄電(dian)(dian)池中存(cun)儲起(qi)來，或(huo)推動負(fu)載工(gong)作。 

      （二）太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)控(kong)制(zhi)器(qi)：太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)控(kong)制(zhi)器(qi)的作(zuo)用是控(kong)制(zhi)整個系統(tong)的工作(zuo)狀態，并對蓄電池(chi)起到(dao)過充(chong)電保護、過放電保護的作(zuo)用。在溫差(cha)較大(da)的地方，合(he)格的控(kong)制(zhi)器(qi)還應(ying)具備(bei)溫度(du)補(bu)償的功能(neng)(neng)(neng)。其他附(fu)加功能(neng)(neng)(neng)如光控(kong)開(kai)關、時控(kong)開(kai)關都應(ying)當是控(kong)制(zhi)器(qi)的可(ke)選項； 

      （三）蓄電(dian)池(chi)(chi)：一(yi)般為(wei)鉛酸(suan)電(dian)池(chi)(chi)，小微型(xing)系統(tong)中(zhong)，也可用鎳氫電(dian)池(chi)(chi)、鎳鎘電(dian)池(chi)(chi)或(huo)鋰電(dian)池(chi)(chi)。其作(zuo)用是在有光照時(shi)將太(tai)陽能電(dian)池(chi)(chi)板所發(fa)出的(de)電(dian)能儲存起(qi)來，到需要的(de)時(shi)候(hou)再(zai)釋(shi)放出來。 

      （四）逆變器：太陽能(neng)(neng)的直(zhi)接(jie)輸出一般都是(shi)12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為能(neng)(neng)向220VAC的電器提供電能(neng)(neng)，需要將太陽能(neng)(neng)發(fa)電系統所發(fa)出的直(zhi)流電能(neng)(neng)轉換成交流電能(neng)(neng)，因此需要使(shi)用DC-AC逆變器。