太陽(yang)能發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)分光(guang)熱發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)和光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)。不論產銷量、發(fa)(fa)展速度和發(fa)(fa)展前景、光(guang)熱發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)都趕不上光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)。可(ke)能因光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)普及較(jiao)廣而接觸(chu)光(guang)熱發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)較(jiao)少，通常(chang)民間所(suo)說(shuo)的太陽(yang)能發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)往往指的就是太陽(yang)能光(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)，簡稱光(guang)電(dian)(dian)。

       光伏(fu)(fu)(fu)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)是根據(ju)光生伏(fu)(fu)(fu)特(te)效應(ying)原(yuan)理,利用太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)將太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)光能直接轉化(hua)為(wei)電(dian)(dian)能。不(bu)論(lun)是獨(du)立使用還是并網發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian),光伏(fu)(fu)(fu)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)系統主要由太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)板（組件）、控(kong)制器(qi)和逆變器(qi)三大部分(fen)組成，它們主要由電(dian)(dian)子元器(qi)件構(gou)成，不(bu)涉及機械部件,所(suo)以(yi),光伏(fu)(fu)(fu)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)設備極(ji)為(wei)精煉,可(ke)靠穩定壽(shou)命長、安裝(zhuang)維護簡便(bian)。理論(lun)上(shang)(shang)講,光伏(fu)(fu)(fu)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)技術可(ke)以(yi)用于任何需要電(dian)(dian)源的場合,上(shang)(shang)至(zhi)航天器(qi),下(xia)至(zhi)家(jia)用電(dian)(dian)源,大到(dao)兆瓦級電(dian)(dian)站,小到(dao)玩具(ju),光伏(fu)(fu)(fu)電(dian)(dian)源無處不(bu)在。國產(chan)晶體(ti)硅電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)效率(lv)在10至(zhi)13%左(zuo)右(you)，國外同類(lei)產(chan)品效率(lv)約12至(zhi)14%。由一個(ge)(ge)或(huo)多個(ge)(ge)太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)片(pian)組成的太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)板稱(cheng)為(wei)光伏(fu)(fu)(fu)組件。

       太(tai)陽(yang)能光(guang)伏發電(dian)系統由(you)太(tai)陽(yang)能電(dian)池(chi)組(zu)、太(tai)陽(yang)能控制器、蓄(xu)電(dian)池(chi)（組(zu)）組(zu)成。如輸出(chu)電(dian)源為(wei)交流220V或(huo)110V，還需(xu)要配置逆變器。各部分的作用(yong)為(wei)：

      （一）太(tai)(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能電(dian)池(chi)(chi)板(ban)：太(tai)(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能電(dian)池(chi)(chi)板(ban)是太(tai)(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能發電(dian)系統中的核心(xin)部分，也(ye)是太(tai)(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能發電(dian)系統中價值最高的部分。其作(zuo)用(yong)是將太(tai)(tai)(tai)陽(yang)的輻射(she)能力轉換為(wei)電(dian)能，或送往蓄電(dian)池(chi)(chi)中存儲(chu)起來(lai)，或推動負(fu)載工作(zuo)。 

      （二）太(tai)陽能控(kong)(kong)制器(qi)：太(tai)陽能控(kong)(kong)制器(qi)的(de)作用是控(kong)(kong)制整(zheng)個系統的(de)工作狀態，并對蓄電(dian)池起到過(guo)充電(dian)保護、過(guo)放電(dian)保護的(de)作用。在溫差(cha)較大的(de)地方，合格的(de)控(kong)(kong)制器(qi)還應(ying)具備溫度(du)補(bu)償(chang)的(de)功能。其他附加功能如光(guang)控(kong)(kong)開關、時控(kong)(kong)開關都應(ying)當是控(kong)(kong)制器(qi)的(de)可選項； 

      （三）蓄電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)：一般為鉛酸(suan)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)，小微型系統中，也可(ke)用(yong)鎳氫電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)、鎳鎘(ge)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)或鋰電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)。其作用(yong)是(shi)在(zai)有光照時(shi)將太陽能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)板所(suo)發出(chu)的電(dian)(dian)能(neng)儲存起來(lai)，到(dao)需要的時(shi)候再釋放出(chu)來(lai)。 

      （四）逆變器：太陽能(neng)(neng)的(de)直(zhi)接輸出一(yi)般都是(shi)12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為能(neng)(neng)向220VAC的(de)電器提供(gong)電能(neng)(neng)，需要將太陽能(neng)(neng)發(fa)電系統所發(fa)出的(de)直(zhi)流(liu)電能(neng)(neng)轉(zhuan)換(huan)成交流(liu)電能(neng)(neng)，因此需要使用DC-AC逆變器。