太陽(yang)能發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)分光(guang)(guang)(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)和光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)。不(bu)論產(chan)銷量、發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)展速度(du)和發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)展前景、光(guang)(guang)(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)都趕不(bu)上光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)。可能因(yin)光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)普及較廣(guang)而接觸光(guang)(guang)(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)較少，通(tong)常民間(jian)所說的太陽(yang)能發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)往往指的就是太陽(yang)能光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)，簡稱光(guang)(guang)(guang)電(dian)。

       光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)是(shi)(shi)根據(ju)光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)生伏(fu)特效(xiao)應原理(li),利(li)用(yong)(yong)太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)將太(tai)陽(yang)光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)直接轉化(hua)為(wei)(wei)電(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)(neng)。不論(lun)是(shi)(shi)獨立(li)使(shi)用(yong)(yong)還是(shi)(shi)并(bing)網發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian),光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)系統主(zhu)(zhu)要由(you)(you)太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)板（組件(jian)）、控(kong)制器(qi)和(he)逆變器(qi)三(san)大部分組成，它們主(zhu)(zhu)要由(you)(you)電(dian)(dian)子元器(qi)件(jian)構成，不涉及(ji)機械部件(jian),所以(yi)(yi),光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)設備(bei)極為(wei)(wei)精煉,可靠穩定壽命長、安(an)裝維護簡便。理(li)論(lun)上(shang)講,光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)技術可以(yi)(yi)用(yong)(yong)于任何需要電(dian)(dian)源的(de)場合,上(shang)至航天器(qi),下(xia)至家(jia)用(yong)(yong)電(dian)(dian)源,大到兆瓦級電(dian)(dian)站,小到玩具(ju),光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)電(dian)(dian)源無處不在(zai)。國產晶體硅電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)效(xiao)率在(zai)10至13%左(zuo)右，國外同類產品效(xiao)率約(yue)12至14%。由(you)(you)一個或多個太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)片組成的(de)太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)板稱為(wei)(wei)光(guang)(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)組件(jian)。

       太陽(yang)能光伏發電(dian)系統由太陽(yang)能電(dian)池組、太陽(yang)能控制器、蓄(xu)電(dian)池（組）組成。如輸出電(dian)源(yuan)為(wei)交流220V或(huo)110V，還需(xu)要配置逆變(bian)器。各部分的作用為(wei)：

      （一）太陽(yang)(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)池板：太陽(yang)(yang)(yang)能(neng)電(dian)池板是太陽(yang)(yang)(yang)能(neng)發電(dian)系統中(zhong)的(de)核(he)心(xin)部分(fen)(fen)，也(ye)是太陽(yang)(yang)(yang)能(neng)發電(dian)系統中(zhong)價值最高的(de)部分(fen)(fen)。其作用(yong)是將太陽(yang)(yang)(yang)的(de)輻(fu)射能(neng)力轉換為電(dian)能(neng)，或(huo)送往蓄電(dian)池中(zhong)存(cun)儲起來，或(huo)推(tui)動負載(zai)工作。 

      （二）太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)控(kong)制器(qi)：太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)控(kong)制器(qi)的(de)作(zuo)用是(shi)控(kong)制整個系統的(de)工作(zuo)狀(zhuang)態，并對(dui)蓄電(dian)(dian)池起到過充電(dian)(dian)保護、過放電(dian)(dian)保護的(de)作(zuo)用。在溫差較(jiao)大的(de)地方(fang)，合格的(de)控(kong)制器(qi)還應具備溫度補償的(de)功能(neng)。其他附加功能(neng)如光控(kong)開(kai)關(guan)、時控(kong)開(kai)關(guan)都應當(dang)是(shi)控(kong)制器(qi)的(de)可選項； 

      （三(san)）蓄電池：一般(ban)為鉛酸(suan)電池，小微(wei)型(xing)系(xi)統中，也可(ke)用鎳氫電池、鎳鎘電池或鋰電池。其作用是在有光照時(shi)將(jiang)太陽(yang)能電池板所發出的電能儲(chu)存起來，到(dao)需(xu)要的時(shi)候再釋放(fang)出來。 

      （四）逆(ni)變器(qi)：太陽能的直接輸(shu)出(chu)一般都是12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為能向220VAC的電(dian)器(qi)提供電(dian)能，需要將太陽能發(fa)電(dian)系統(tong)所發(fa)出(chu)的直流電(dian)能轉換成交流電(dian)能，因(yin)此需要使用DC-AC逆(ni)變器(qi)。