太陽能發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)分光(guang)(guang)(guang)熱發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)和(he)光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)。不論產銷量(liang)、發(fa)展速度和(he)發(fa)展前景、光(guang)(guang)(guang)熱發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)都趕不上(shang)光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)。可能因(yin)光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)普及(ji)較廣而接觸光(guang)(guang)(guang)熱發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)較少(shao)，通常民間所說(shuo)的(de)太陽能發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)往往指的(de)就(jiu)是(shi)太陽能光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)，簡稱光(guang)(guang)(guang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)。

       光(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)是(shi)根據光(guang)生伏特效應(ying)原理(li),利用太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池將太(tai)陽(yang)光(guang)能(neng)直(zhi)接轉(zhuan)化(hua)為電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)能(neng)。不論是(shi)獨(du)立(li)使用還是(shi)并網(wang)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),光(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)系(xi)統(tong)主(zhu)要由(you)太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池板（組件）、控制器和(he)逆(ni)變器三(san)大(da)部分(fen)組成，它們主(zhu)要由(you)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)子元器件構成，不涉及(ji)機械部件,所以,光(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)設備極為精煉,可(ke)(ke)靠(kao)穩定壽(shou)命長(chang)、安裝維護(hu)簡便(bian)。理(li)論上講,光(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)技術(shu)可(ke)(ke)以用于任何需要電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源的場合(he),上至(zhi)航天(tian)器,下至(zhi)家用電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源,大(da)到(dao)兆瓦級電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)站,小到(dao)玩具,光(guang)伏電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源無處不在。國產晶(jing)體硅電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池效率在10至(zhi)13%左右，國外同(tong)類產品效率約12至(zhi)14%。由(you)一個(ge)或(huo)多個(ge)太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池片組成的太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池板稱為光(guang)伏組件。

       太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)光伏發電系統由太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)電池組(zu)(zu)、太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)控制器、蓄電池（組(zu)(zu)）組(zu)(zu)成。如輸出電源為(wei)交流220V或(huo)110V，還(huan)需要配置逆(ni)變器。各部(bu)分的(de)作用為(wei)：

      （一）太陽(yang)能(neng)電池板：太陽(yang)能(neng)電池板是(shi)(shi)太陽(yang)能(neng)發電系統中的核(he)心部分，也是(shi)(shi)太陽(yang)能(neng)發電系統中價值最高的部分。其作(zuo)用是(shi)(shi)將(jiang)太陽(yang)的輻射能(neng)力轉換為電能(neng)，或送往(wang)蓄(xu)電池中存儲起來(lai)，或推動負載工作(zuo)。 

      （二）太陽能(neng)(neng)控(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)器：太陽能(neng)(neng)控(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)器的(de)作(zuo)(zuo)用是(shi)(shi)控(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)整個系統的(de)工作(zuo)(zuo)狀態，并(bing)對蓄電(dian)池(chi)起到過充(chong)電(dian)保護(hu)、過放電(dian)保護(hu)的(de)作(zuo)(zuo)用。在溫差較大(da)的(de)地方，合格的(de)控(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)器還應具備(bei)溫度補償(chang)的(de)功能(neng)(neng)。其他附加功能(neng)(neng)如(ru)光控(kong)開關(guan)、時(shi)控(kong)開關(guan)都應當是(shi)(shi)控(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)器的(de)可選項(xiang)； 

      （三）蓄電(dian)(dian)池：一般為鉛酸電(dian)(dian)池，小微型(xing)系統中(zhong)，也可(ke)用鎳氫電(dian)(dian)池、鎳鎘(ge)電(dian)(dian)池或鋰電(dian)(dian)池。其(qi)作用是(shi)在有(you)光照(zhao)時將太(tai)陽能電(dian)(dian)池板所(suo)發出的(de)電(dian)(dian)能儲存起來(lai)，到需要的(de)時候再釋放出來(lai)。 

      （四）逆(ni)(ni)變器：太陽能(neng)(neng)(neng)的直接(jie)輸(shu)出一般都是12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為能(neng)(neng)(neng)向220VAC的電(dian)(dian)器提供電(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)(neng)，需要(yao)將太陽能(neng)(neng)(neng)發電(dian)(dian)系統所發出的直流電(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)(neng)轉換成交流電(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)(neng)，因(yin)此需要(yao)使用DC-AC逆(ni)(ni)變器。