太(tai)陽(yang)能發(fa)電(dian)(dian)分光(guang)(guang)(guang)熱發(fa)電(dian)(dian)和光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)。不(bu)(bu)論產(chan)銷量(liang)、發(fa)展速度和發(fa)展前景(jing)、光(guang)(guang)(guang)熱發(fa)電(dian)(dian)都趕不(bu)(bu)上(shang)光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)。可能因(yin)光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)普(pu)及較廣而(er)接觸光(guang)(guang)(guang)熱發(fa)電(dian)(dian)較少，通常民間所說的(de)太(tai)陽(yang)能發(fa)電(dian)(dian)往(wang)往(wang)指的(de)就是太(tai)陽(yang)能光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)，簡稱光(guang)(guang)(guang)電(dian)(dian)。

       光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)是(shi)(shi)根據光(guang)(guang)生伏(fu)(fu)特效(xiao)應原理,利用(yong)太(tai)(tai)(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)池(chi)將(jiang)太(tai)(tai)(tai)(tai)陽(yang)光(guang)(guang)能(neng)(neng)直接轉化為電(dian)能(neng)(neng)。不(bu)論(lun)是(shi)(shi)獨立(li)使用(yong)還是(shi)(shi)并網發(fa)(fa)電(dian),光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)系統主要由太(tai)(tai)(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)池(chi)板(ban)（組(zu)件）、控制器(qi)和(he)逆變器(qi)三大(da)部(bu)(bu)分組(zu)成，它(ta)們(men)主要由電(dian)子元器(qi)件構成，不(bu)涉及機(ji)械部(bu)(bu)件,所以(yi),光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)設備極為精煉,可靠穩定壽(shou)命長(chang)、安(an)裝(zhuang)維護簡便。理論(lun)上講(jiang),光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)技(ji)術(shu)可以(yi)用(yong)于任(ren)何需要電(dian)源的場合,上至航天器(qi),下(xia)至家用(yong)電(dian)源,大(da)到(dao)兆瓦級(ji)電(dian)站,小(xiao)到(dao)玩具(ju),光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)電(dian)源無(wu)處不(bu)在。國(guo)產(chan)晶體硅(gui)電(dian)池(chi)效(xiao)率在10至13%左右(you)，國(guo)外同類產(chan)品效(xiao)率約(yue)12至14%。由一個(ge)或多個(ge)太(tai)(tai)(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)池(chi)片組(zu)成的太(tai)(tai)(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)電(dian)池(chi)板(ban)稱為光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)(fu)組(zu)件。

       太(tai)陽能光伏發電系統由太(tai)陽能電池組、太(tai)陽能控(kong)制(zhi)器(qi)、蓄電池（組）組成。如輸出電源為(wei)交流220V或110V，還(huan)需要配置逆變器(qi)。各部分(fen)的作用為(wei)：

      （一）太陽(yang)能電(dian)池板：太陽(yang)能電(dian)池板是太陽(yang)能發電(dian)系統中(zhong)(zhong)的核心(xin)部分，也是太陽(yang)能發電(dian)系統中(zhong)(zhong)價值最高的部分。其作用是將太陽(yang)的輻射能力轉(zhuan)換(huan)為電(dian)能，或(huo)送(song)往(wang)蓄電(dian)池中(zhong)(zhong)存儲起來(lai)，或(huo)推動負載工(gong)作。 

      （二）太陽能控(kong)制(zhi)器：太陽能控(kong)制(zhi)器的(de)作用(yong)是控(kong)制(zhi)整個系統的(de)工(gong)作狀(zhuang)態，并對蓄電(dian)(dian)池起到(dao)過充(chong)電(dian)(dian)保(bao)護、過放電(dian)(dian)保(bao)護的(de)作用(yong)。在溫差較大(da)的(de)地方，合格的(de)控(kong)制(zhi)器還應具備溫度補償(chang)的(de)功(gong)能。其他附加功(gong)能如光(guang)控(kong)開關、時控(kong)開關都應當是控(kong)制(zhi)器的(de)可選項； 

      （三(san)）蓄電池：一(yi)般為鉛酸電池，小微型系統中，也可(ke)用鎳氫電池、鎳鎘(ge)電池或鋰(li)電池。其作用是在(zai)有光照(zhao)時將太陽能(neng)電池板所發出(chu)的電能(neng)儲存起來，到需要的時候再釋放出(chu)來。 

      （四）逆變器：太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)的直接輸(shu)出一般(ban)都是12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為能(neng)(neng)(neng)向220VAC的電(dian)器提供電(dian)能(neng)(neng)(neng)，需(xu)要(yao)將(jiang)太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)發電(dian)系統所發出的直流電(dian)能(neng)(neng)(neng)轉(zhuan)換成交流電(dian)能(neng)(neng)(neng)，因(yin)此需(xu)要(yao)使用DC-AC逆變器。