太陽能發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)分光(guang)(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)和光(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)。不論(lun)產銷量(liang)、發(fa)(fa)(fa)展速度和發(fa)(fa)(fa)展前(qian)景、光(guang)(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)都(dou)趕不上光(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)。可能因光(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)普及(ji)較廣而接觸(chu)光(guang)(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)較少(shao)，通常民間所說(shuo)的太陽能發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)往往指的就是太陽能光(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)，簡稱光(guang)(guang)電(dian)(dian)。

       光伏發電(dian)(dian)(dian)是(shi)根據光生伏特效(xiao)應原理(li),利(li)用(yong)太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能電(dian)(dian)(dian)池將太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)光能直接(jie)轉化為電(dian)(dian)(dian)能。不論(lun)是(shi)獨立使用(yong)還(huan)是(shi)并網(wang)發電(dian)(dian)(dian),光伏發電(dian)(dian)(dian)系統主要(yao)由(you)太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能電(dian)(dian)(dian)池板(ban)（組件(jian)(jian)）、控制(zhi)器和逆變器三大(da)部(bu)分組成(cheng)，它們主要(yao)由(you)電(dian)(dian)(dian)子元器件(jian)(jian)構成(cheng)，不涉及機械部(bu)件(jian)(jian),所以(yi),光伏發電(dian)(dian)(dian)設備(bei)極為精煉,可(ke)靠(kao)穩(wen)定壽命(ming)長、安(an)裝維(wei)護簡便。理(li)論(lun)上講,光伏發電(dian)(dian)(dian)技術可(ke)以(yi)用(yong)于任何(he)需要(yao)電(dian)(dian)(dian)源的(de)場合,上至(zhi)航天器,下至(zhi)家(jia)用(yong)電(dian)(dian)(dian)源,大(da)到兆瓦級(ji)電(dian)(dian)(dian)站,小到玩具,光伏電(dian)(dian)(dian)源無處(chu)不在。國產(chan)晶體(ti)硅電(dian)(dian)(dian)池效(xiao)率在10至(zhi)13%左右，國外同類(lei)產(chan)品效(xiao)率約12至(zhi)14%。由(you)一個或多個太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能電(dian)(dian)(dian)池片組成(cheng)的(de)太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能電(dian)(dian)(dian)池板(ban)稱為光伏組件(jian)(jian)。

       太(tai)陽能光伏發電系(xi)統由(you)太(tai)陽能電池(chi)組(zu)、太(tai)陽能控(kong)制器(qi)、蓄電池(chi)（組(zu)）組(zu)成。如輸出電源(yuan)為(wei)交流220V或110V，還需要配置逆變(bian)器(qi)。各部分的(de)作(zuo)用為(wei)：

      （一）太(tai)陽(yang)能電池(chi)(chi)板：太(tai)陽(yang)能電池(chi)(chi)板是太(tai)陽(yang)能發電系統中的(de)核心部分(fen)，也是太(tai)陽(yang)能發電系統中價(jia)值最高的(de)部分(fen)。其作(zuo)用是將太(tai)陽(yang)的(de)輻射能力(li)轉(zhuan)換為電能，或(huo)送(song)往蓄電池(chi)(chi)中存儲(chu)起來，或(huo)推動負(fu)載工作(zuo)。 

      （二）太(tai)陽能控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)：太(tai)陽能控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)的(de)(de)作(zuo)用(yong)是控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)整個系統的(de)(de)工作(zuo)狀態，并對蓄電池(chi)起(qi)到過(guo)充電保護、過(guo)放(fang)電保護的(de)(de)作(zuo)用(yong)。在溫差較大的(de)(de)地方，合格的(de)(de)控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)還應具(ju)備溫度補償的(de)(de)功(gong)能。其他(ta)附加(jia)功(gong)能如光控(kong)(kong)開關、時(shi)控(kong)(kong)開關都應當是控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)的(de)(de)可選項； 

      （三）蓄電池(chi)：一般為鉛酸電池(chi)，小微型系統中，也可用鎳氫電池(chi)、鎳鎘電池(chi)或鋰(li)電池(chi)。其作用是(shi)在有(you)光照時(shi)將太陽(yang)能電池(chi)板所發出的電能儲(chu)存起來，到需要(yao)的時(shi)候(hou)再釋(shi)放出來。 

      （四(si)）逆變器：太陽能(neng)的直接(jie)輸出(chu)一般都是12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為(wei)能(neng)向220VAC的電(dian)(dian)器提供(gong)電(dian)(dian)能(neng)，需要(yao)(yao)將太陽能(neng)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)系統所發(fa)出(chu)的直流電(dian)(dian)能(neng)轉換成交流電(dian)(dian)能(neng)，因此(ci)需要(yao)(yao)使用DC-AC逆變器。