太陽(yang)能發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)分(fen)光(guang)(guang)熱發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)和光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)。不論產銷量(liang)、發(fa)展(zhan)速度和發(fa)展(zhan)前景、光(guang)(guang)熱發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)都趕不上光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)。可能因光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)普及(ji)較(jiao)廣(guang)而接(jie)觸光(guang)(guang)熱發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)較(jiao)少，通常民間所說的(de)太陽(yang)能發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)往往指的(de)就是太陽(yang)能光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)，簡稱光(guang)(guang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)。

       光(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)是(shi)根(gen)據光(guang)生伏(fu)(fu)特效(xiao)應原理,利用(yong)(yong)太陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)將(jiang)太陽(yang)(yang)光(guang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)直接(jie)轉化為(wei)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)(neng)。不(bu)論是(shi)獨立使用(yong)(yong)還是(shi)并網發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),光(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)系統主(zhu)要由(you)太陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)板（組(zu)(zu)件）、控制器和逆變器三大(da)部(bu)分組(zu)(zu)成(cheng)，它(ta)們(men)主(zhu)要由(you)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)子元器件構成(cheng)，不(bu)涉及(ji)機械部(bu)件,所以(yi),光(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)設備極為(wei)精煉,可靠穩(wen)定壽命長、安裝維護簡便。理論上講,光(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)技術可以(yi)用(yong)(yong)于任(ren)何需要電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源的場合(he),上至航天(tian)器,下(xia)至家用(yong)(yong)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源,大(da)到(dao)兆瓦級電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)站,小到(dao)玩具,光(guang)伏(fu)(fu)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源無處不(bu)在(zai)。國產晶體硅電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)效(xiao)率在(zai)10至13%左右，國外同類(lei)產品效(xiao)率約12至14%。由(you)一個或(huo)多個太陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)片組(zu)(zu)成(cheng)的太陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)板稱為(wei)光(guang)伏(fu)(fu)組(zu)(zu)件。

       太陽能光伏(fu)發電(dian)系統(tong)由太陽能電(dian)池組、太陽能控制器、蓄(xu)電(dian)池（組）組成。如輸(shu)出電(dian)源為交流220V或(huo)110V，還需要配置逆變(bian)器。各部分的作用為：

      （一）太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)電池(chi)板：太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)電池(chi)板是(shi)太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)發電系(xi)統中(zhong)的(de)核心部分，也是(shi)太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)發電系(xi)統中(zhong)價值最(zui)高的(de)部分。其作用(yong)是(shi)將太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)的(de)輻(fu)射(she)能(neng)力轉換為電能(neng)，或送往蓄電池(chi)中(zhong)存儲起(qi)來，或推動負(fu)載工(gong)作。 

 ;     （二(er)）太(tai)陽(yang)能控(kong)制器：太(tai)陽(yang)能控(kong)制器的(de)作(zuo)(zuo)用是控(kong)制整個系統的(de)工作(zuo)(zuo)狀(zhuang)態，并對蓄(xu)電池起到(dao)過充電保(bao)(bao)護、過放電保(bao)(bao)護的(de)作(zuo)(zuo)用。在溫(wen)差較大的(de)地(di)方，合格的(de)控(kong)制器還應具備溫(wen)度補償的(de)功能。其他附(fu)加功能如光控(kong)開關、時(shi)控(kong)開關都應當是控(kong)制器的(de)可選(xuan)項； 

      （三）蓄電(dian)池(chi)(chi)：一般為鉛酸電(dian)池(chi)(chi)，小微型系統中，也可用鎳氫電(dian)池(chi)(chi)、鎳鎘電(dian)池(chi)(chi)或鋰電(dian)池(chi)(chi)。其作用是在有光照(zhao)時將太陽能電(dian)池(chi)(chi)板所發出的電(dian)能儲存起來(lai)，到需(xu)要的時候再釋(shi)放(fang)出來(lai)。 

      （四）逆(ni)變器：太陽(yang)能(neng)的(de)直接(jie)輸出一般都(dou)是(shi)12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為能(neng)向(xiang)220VAC的(de)電器提供(gong)電能(neng)，需(xu)要(yao)將太陽(yang)能(neng)發電系統所發出的(de)直流電能(neng)轉換成交流電能(neng)，因(yin)此需(xu)要(yao)使(shi)用(yong)DC-AC逆(ni)變器。