太陽(yang)能(neng)發(fa)電(dian)分光熱發(fa)電(dian)和光伏(fu)發(fa)電(dian)。不(bu)論產(chan)銷量、發(fa)展(zhan)速度(du)和發(fa)展(zhan)前景、光熱發(fa)電(dian)都趕(gan)不(bu)上光伏(fu)發(fa)電(dian)。可能(neng)因光伏(fu)發(fa)電(dian)普及較廣而接(jie)觸光熱發(fa)電(dian)較少，通常民(min)間所說的(de)太陽(yang)能(neng)發(fa)電(dian)往往指的(de)就是太陽(yang)能(neng)光伏(fu)發(fa)電(dian)，簡(jian)稱光電(dian)。

       光(guang)伏(fu)(fu)(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)是(shi)根據(ju)光(guang)生(sheng)伏(fu)(fu)(fu)特效應(ying)原(yuan)理(li),利用太(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池將(jiang)太(tai)(tai)陽光(guang)能(neng)(neng)直接(jie)轉(zhuan)化為電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)。不論是(shi)獨立(li)使用還是(shi)并網發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),光(guang)伏(fu)(fu)(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)系統主要由太(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池板（組(zu)件）、控制器和逆(ni)變器三大(da)部分組(zu)成(cheng)，它們(men)主要由電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)子元器件構成(cheng)，不涉及機械(xie)部件,所以,光(guang)伏(fu)(fu)(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)設備極為精煉,可靠穩定(ding)壽命長、安(an)裝維護簡便。理(li)論上講,光(guang)伏(fu)(fu)(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)技術可以用于(yu)任(ren)何需要電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源的場合,上至航天器,下至家(jia)用電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源,大(da)到兆(zhao)瓦級電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)站,小(xiao)到玩具(ju),光(guang)伏(fu)(fu)(fu)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源無處不在。國(guo)產晶體硅電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池效率(lv)在10至13%左右，國(guo)外同類產品效率(lv)約12至14%。由一個(ge)(ge)或(huo)多個(ge)(ge)太(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池片組(zu)成(cheng)的太(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池板稱為光(guang)伏(fu)(fu)(fu)組(zu)件。

       太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能光伏發電(dian)(dian)系(xi)統(tong)由太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能電(dian)(dian)池組(zu)、太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能控制(zhi)器、蓄電(dian)(dian)池（組(zu)）組(zu)成。如輸(shu)出電(dian)(dian)源為交流220V或110V，還需要配置逆(ni)變器。各(ge)部分(fen)的作用為：

      （一）太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)池板：太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)池板是(shi)太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)(neng)發電(dian)(dian)系統中(zhong)(zhong)的(de)核心(xin)部(bu)分，也是(shi)太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)(neng)發電(dian)(dian)系統中(zhong)(zhong)價值最高的(de)部(bu)分。其作(zuo)用是(shi)將(jiang)太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)(yang)的(de)輻(fu)射能(neng)(neng)力(li)轉換為電(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)，或送往蓄電(dian)(dian)池中(zhong)(zhong)存儲起來(lai)，或推動負載工作(zuo)。 

      （二）太陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)控(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)：太陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)控(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)的作用是控(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)整個系統(tong)的工(gong)作狀態，并對蓄電(dian)池起到過(guo)充電(dian)保(bao)護、過(guo)放(fang)電(dian)保(bao)護的作用。在溫差較大(da)的地方，合(he)格的控(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)還應(ying)具備溫度補(bu)償的功能(neng)。其(qi)他(ta)附加功能(neng)如光(guang)控(kong)開(kai)關(guan)、時控(kong)開(kai)關(guan)都應(ying)當是控(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)器(qi)的可(ke)選項； 

      （三）蓄電池(chi)(chi)：一般(ban)為鉛酸電池(chi)(chi)，小微(wei)型系統(tong)中，也可用鎳氫電池(chi)(chi)、鎳鎘電池(chi)(chi)或鋰電池(chi)(chi)。其作(zuo)用是在(zai)有(you)光照(zhao)時將(jiang)太(tai)陽能電池(chi)(chi)板所(suo)發出的電能儲存起(qi)來(lai)，到需要(yao)的時候再釋放出來(lai)。 

      （四）逆(ni)變器：太陽(yang)能(neng)的直接輸出(chu)一般都是12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為(wei)能(neng)向220VAC的電器提供電能(neng)，需要(yao)將太陽(yang)能(neng)發電系統所發出(chu)的直流(liu)電能(neng)轉換成(cheng)交流(liu)電能(neng)，因(yin)此(ci)需要(yao)使用DC-AC逆(ni)變器。