太陽能發(fa)電(dian)(dian)分(fen)光(guang)(guang)(guang)熱發(fa)電(dian)(dian)和(he)光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)(dian)。不論產銷量、發(fa)展速度和(he)發(fa)展前(qian)景、光(guang)(guang)(guang)熱發(fa)電(dian)(dian)都趕不上光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)(dian)。可能因(yin)光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)(dian)普及較(jiao)廣而接觸(chu)光(guang)(guang)(guang)熱發(fa)電(dian)(dian)較(jiao)少，通常(chang)民間所說的(de)太陽能發(fa)電(dian)(dian)往往指(zhi)的(de)就是太陽能光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)(dian)，簡稱光(guang)(guang)(guang)電(dian)(dian)。

       光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)是(shi)根據光(guang)(guang)(guang)生伏(fu)(fu)特效應(ying)原理(li),利用太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池將太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)光(guang)(guang)(guang)能(neng)(neng)直接轉(zhuan)化為電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)。不論是(shi)獨(du)立使(shi)用還(huan)是(shi)并網(wang)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)系統主(zhu)要(yao)(yao)由(you)太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池板（組(zu)件(jian)）、控(kong)制器(qi)和逆變(bian)器(qi)三大部分(fen)組(zu)成，它們主(zhu)要(yao)(yao)由(you)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)子元器(qi)件(jian)構成，不涉及機械部件(jian),所以(yi),光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)設備極為精煉,可(ke)靠穩定壽(shou)命長、安裝維護簡便。理(li)論上(shang)講(jiang),光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)技(ji)術可(ke)以(yi)用于任(ren)何需要(yao)(yao)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源(yuan)的場合,上(shang)至(zhi)(zhi)航天器(qi),下至(zhi)(zhi)家用電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源(yuan),大到兆瓦級電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)站(zhan),小到玩具,光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源(yuan)無處不在。國產晶(jing)體(ti)硅電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池效率(lv)在10至(zhi)(zhi)13%左右，國外同類(lei)產品效率(lv)約(yue)12至(zhi)(zhi)14%。由(you)一個或(huo)多個太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池片組(zu)成的太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池板稱為光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)組(zu)件(jian)。

       太陽(yang)能光伏發電系(xi)統由太陽(yang)能電池組、太陽(yang)能控制(zhi)器、蓄電池（組）組成。如輸出電源為(wei)交(jiao)流220V或110V，還需要配置逆變(bian)器。各(ge)部(bu)分的作用(yong)為(wei)：

      （一）太陽(yang)(yang)能電(dian)(dian)(dian)池板：太陽(yang)(yang)能電(dian)(dian)(dian)池板是(shi)太陽(yang)(yang)能發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)系統中的核心部分，也是(shi)太陽(yang)(yang)能發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)系統中價值最高的部分。其(qi)作用是(shi)將太陽(yang)(yang)的輻射(she)能力轉換為(wei)電(dian)(dian)(dian)能，或送(song)往蓄電(dian)(dian)(dian)池中存儲起來，或推動負(fu)載工作。 

      （二）太(tai)陽能控制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)：太(tai)陽能控制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)的(de)(de)作(zuo)(zuo)用(yong)是(shi)控制(zhi)(zhi)整個系統的(de)(de)工作(zuo)(zuo)狀態，并(bing)對(dui)蓄電(dian)池起到過(guo)充電(dian)保護、過(guo)放(fang)電(dian)保護的(de)(de)作(zuo)(zuo)用(yong)。在溫(wen)差較(jiao)大的(de)(de)地方，合格的(de)(de)控制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)還應具備溫(wen)度補償的(de)(de)功能。其他附加功能如光控開關(guan)、時(shi)控開關(guan)都應當是(shi)控制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)的(de)(de)可選項； 

      （三）蓄電(dian)(dian)池(chi)：一般為鉛酸電(dian)(dian)池(chi)，小(xiao)微型系統中，也可用鎳氫電(dian)(dian)池(chi)、鎳鎘電(dian)(dian)池(chi)或鋰電(dian)(dian)池(chi)。其作(zuo)用是在有光照時將太陽能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)板(ban)所發出的(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)能(neng)儲存起來，到需要(yao)的(de)(de)時候再(zai)釋放(fang)出來。 

      （四）逆(ni)變器：太陽(yang)能(neng)的(de)直(zhi)接輸(shu)出一(yi)般(ban)都(dou)是12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為能(neng)向220VAC的(de)電(dian)器提供(gong)電(dian)能(neng)，需(xu)要將太陽(yang)能(neng)發(fa)電(dian)系統所發(fa)出的(de)直(zhi)流電(dian)能(neng)轉換成(cheng)交流電(dian)能(neng)，因此需(xu)要使(shi)用(yong)DC-AC逆(ni)變器。