太陽(yang)能(neng)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)分光(guang)(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)和光(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)。不(bu)(bu)論產銷量、發(fa)(fa)展速度和發(fa)(fa)展前景、光(guang)(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)都趕不(bu)(bu)上光(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)。可(ke)能(neng)因光(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)普及較廣而接觸光(guang)(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)較少，通常(chang)民間所說的太陽(yang)能(neng)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)往往指的就是太陽(yang)能(neng)光(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)，簡稱光(guang)(guang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)。

       光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)是根據光(guang)(guang)(guang)生伏特效應原理(li),利用太陽(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)能電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池將太陽(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)光(guang)(guang)(guang)能直接轉化為電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)能。不(bu)論是獨立使(shi)用還(huan)是并網發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)系統(tong)主要由太陽(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)能電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池板（組(zu)件(jian)(jian)）、控(kong)制器和逆變(bian)器三大(da)部分(fen)組(zu)成，它們主要由電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)子元器件(jian)(jian)構成，不(bu)涉及(ji)機械部件(jian)(jian),所以(yi),光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)設備極為精煉,可(ke)靠穩定壽(shou)命長、安裝維(wei)護簡便。理(li)論上講,光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)技術(shu)可(ke)以(yi)用于任(ren)何(he)需要電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源的場合(he),上至航(hang)天器,下(xia)至家用電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源,大(da)到(dao)兆瓦級電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)站,小到(dao)玩具,光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源無處不(bu)在(zai)。國(guo)產(chan)晶體(ti)硅(gui)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池效率在(zai)10至13%左右，國(guo)外同類(lei)產(chan)品效率約12至14%。由一個(ge)或多(duo)個(ge)太陽(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)能電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池片組(zu)成的太陽(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)能電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池板稱(cheng)為光(guang)(guang)(guang)伏組(zu)件(jian)(jian)。

     ;  太(tai)陽能光伏發電(dian)系(xi)統由(you)太(tai)陽能電(dian)池組、太(tai)陽能控制(zhi)器(qi)、蓄電(dian)池（組）組成。如輸出(chu)電(dian)源為(wei)交(jiao)流(liu)220V或110V，還(huan)需要配置(zhi)逆變器(qi)。各(ge)部分的作用為(wei)：

      （一）太陽(yang)(yang)能電(dian)(dian)池(chi)板(ban)(ban)：太陽(yang)(yang)能電(dian)(dian)池(chi)板(ban)(ban)是太陽(yang)(yang)能發電(dian)(dian)系(xi)統中(zhong)的核心部(bu)分(fen)，也是太陽(yang)(yang)能發電(dian)(dian)系(xi)統中(zhong)價值(zhi)最高(gao)的部(bu)分(fen)。其作(zuo)用是將太陽(yang)(yang)的輻射能力(li)轉換為電(dian)(dian)能，或(huo)送往蓄電(dian)(dian)池(chi)中(zhong)存儲起來(lai)，或(huo)推動(dong)負載工作(zuo)。 

      （二）太(tai)陽能控(kong)制器(qi)(qi)：太(tai)陽能控(kong)制器(qi)(qi)的作(zuo)用(yong)是(shi)控(kong)制整個系統的工作(zuo)狀(zhuang)態，并(bing)對蓄電池(chi)起到(dao)過(guo)充電保護、過(guo)放電保護的作(zuo)用(yong)。在溫差(cha)較大的地方，合格的控(kong)制器(qi)(qi)還應(ying)具(ju)備(bei)溫度補償的功能。其他附加功能如(ru)光控(kong)開關(guan)、時控(kong)開關(guan)都應(ying)當是(shi)控(kong)制器(qi)(qi)的可選項； 

      （三）蓄(xu)電(dian)(dian)池：一般為鉛酸電(dian)(dian)池，小微型系(xi)統中(zhong)，也可(ke)用(yong)鎳(nie)氫電(dian)(dian)池、鎳(nie)鎘(ge)電(dian)(dian)池或(huo)鋰電(dian)(dian)池。其作用(yong)是(shi)在有光(guang)照(zhao)時(shi)將太陽能電(dian)(dian)池板(ban)所發出(chu)的電(dian)(dian)能儲存(cun)起(qi)來，到(dao)需要的時(shi)候再釋(shi)放出(chu)來。 

      （四）逆變器(qi)：太陽能的(de)直接(jie)輸出(chu)一(yi)般(ban)都是12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為能向220VAC的(de)電(dian)(dian)器(qi)提(ti)供(gong)電(dian)(dian)能，需要將太陽能發(fa)電(dian)(dian)系統所發(fa)出(chu)的(de)直流電(dian)(dian)能轉換(huan)成交流電(dian)(dian)能，因此需要使(shi)用DC-AC逆變器(qi)。