太陽(yang)能發(fa)(fa)電(dian)分光(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)和(he)光(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)電(dian)。不論產銷量、發(fa)(fa)展(zhan)(zhan)速度和(he)發(fa)(fa)展(zhan)(zhan)前景、光(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)都趕不上光(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)電(dian)。可(ke)能因(yin)光(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)電(dian)普及較廣而接(jie)觸光(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)較少，通常(chang)民間(jian)所(suo)說的(de)太陽(yang)能發(fa)(fa)電(dian)往(wang)往(wang)指的(de)就是太陽(yang)能光(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)電(dian)，簡稱光(guang)電(dian)。

       光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)是根據光(guang)(guang)生伏(fu)(fu)(fu)特效應原理,利用(yong)太陽能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)將(jiang)太陽光(guang)(guang)能(neng)直接轉化為電(dian)(dian)能(neng)。不(bu)(bu)論是獨立使用(yong)還是并網發(fa)電(dian)(dian),光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)系統主要由太陽能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)板(ban)（組件(jian)）、控制器(qi)(qi)和逆變器(qi)(qi)三大部分組成(cheng)，它們主要由電(dian)(dian)子元(yuan)器(qi)(qi)件(jian)構成(cheng)，不(bu)(bu)涉及(ji)機械部件(jian),所以,光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)設(she)備極為精煉,可(ke)靠穩(wen)定壽(shou)命長、安裝維護簡便。理論上講(jiang),光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)技術(shu)可(ke)以用(yong)于任(ren)何需要電(dian)(dian)源的場合,上至航天器(qi)(qi),下至家用(yong)電(dian)(dian)源,大到(dao)兆瓦級電(dian)(dian)站,小到(dao)玩(wan)具(ju),光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)(fu)電(dian)(dian)源無處(chu)不(bu)(bu)在。國產晶體硅電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)效率在10至13%左右，國外同類產品效率約12至14%。由一個或多個太陽能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)片組成(cheng)的太陽能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)板(ban)稱(cheng)為光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)(fu)組件(jian)。

       太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)光伏發電系(xi)統由太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)電池組(zu)、太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)控制(zhi)器(qi)(qi)、蓄電池（組(zu)）組(zu)成(cheng)。如輸出(chu)電源為交流220V或110V，還需要配置(zhi)逆變器(qi)(qi)。各部分的(de)作用(yong)為：

      （一）太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電池板：太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電池板是(shi)(shi)太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)發電系統中(zhong)的核心部(bu)分，也是(shi)(shi)太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)發電系統中(zhong)價值最高的部(bu)分。其作(zuo)用是(shi)(shi)將太(tai)陽(yang)的輻射能(neng)(neng)力轉換為電能(neng)(neng)，或送(song)往蓄電池中(zhong)存儲起(qi)來，或推動(dong)負載(zai)工(gong)作(zuo)。 

      （二）太陽能控制(zhi)器(qi)(qi)：太陽能控制(zhi)器(qi)(qi)的(de)作(zuo)(zuo)用是控制(zhi)整個(ge)系統的(de)工作(zuo)(zuo)狀態，并對蓄電池起到過(guo)(guo)充電保(bao)護、過(guo)(guo)放電保(bao)護的(de)作(zuo)(zuo)用。在(zai)溫差較大的(de)地(di)方，合格的(de)控制(zhi)器(qi)(qi)還應具備溫度補償的(de)功(gong)能。其他附加功(gong)能如光控開(kai)關、時控開(kai)關都應當是控制(zhi)器(qi)(qi)的(de)可(ke)選項； 

      （三(san)）蓄電(dian)(dian)池：一般為鉛酸電(dian)(dian)池，小微型系統中，也可用鎳氫(qing)電(dian)(dian)池、鎳鎘電(dian)(dian)池或(huo)鋰(li)電(dian)(dian)池。其(qi)作(zuo)用是在有光照時將太陽能電(dian)(dian)池板所發(fa)出(chu)的(de)電(dian)(dian)能儲存(cun)起來，到需(xu)要的(de)時候(hou)再(zai)釋放出(chu)來。 

      （四）逆(ni)變器：太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)的直(zhi)接輸出(chu)一般都是(shi)12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為(wei)能(neng)(neng)向220VAC的電(dian)(dian)器提供電(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)，需(xu)要(yao)將太陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)發電(dian)(dian)系(xi)統(tong)所發出(chu)的直(zhi)流電(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)轉換成交流電(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)，因此(ci)需(xu)要(yao)使用DC-AC逆(ni)變器。