太陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)(neng)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)分(fen)光(guang)(guang)熱發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)和(he)光(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)。不論產銷量、發(fa)(fa)(fa)展速度和(he)發(fa)(fa)(fa)展前景、光(guang)(guang)熱發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)都趕不上(shang)光(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)。可能(neng)(neng)因光(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)普及較(jiao)(jiao)廣而接觸光(guang)(guang)熱發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)較(jiao)(jiao)少(shao)，通常民間所(suo)說的(de)太陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)(neng)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)往(wang)往(wang)指的(de)就(jiu)是太陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)(neng)光(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)，簡(jian)稱光(guang)(guang)電(dian)(dian)。

       光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發電(dian)是(shi)根(gen)據光(guang)(guang)生伏(fu)特效應(ying)原(yuan)理(li),利用太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)電(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)將太(tai)陽(yang)光(guang)(guang)能(neng)直接轉化為電(dian)能(neng)。不(bu)論是(shi)獨立使用還是(shi)并網發電(dian),光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發電(dian)系統主要(yao)(yao)由太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)電(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)板（組件(jian)）、控制器和逆變器三大(da)部(bu)分組成，它們主要(yao)(yao)由電(dian)子元器件(jian)構成，不(bu)涉及機械(xie)部(bu)件(jian),所以,光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發電(dian)設備(bei)極為精煉,可靠穩(wen)定壽(shou)命長、安裝(zhuang)維護(hu)簡便。理(li)論上講,光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發電(dian)技(ji)術可以用于任(ren)何需要(yao)(yao)電(dian)源(yuan)的場合,上至(zhi)航天器,下至(zhi)家用電(dian)源(yuan),大(da)到兆瓦級電(dian)站(zhan),小到玩具(ju),光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)電(dian)源(yuan)無處不(bu)在。國產晶體(ti)硅電(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)效率在10至(zhi)13%左右(you)，國外同類(lei)產品效率約(yue)12至(zhi)14%。由一個或多個太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)電(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)片組成的太(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)電(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)板稱為光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)組件(jian)。

       太(tai)陽能(neng)光(guang)伏發電系(xi)統由太(tai)陽能(neng)電池組、太(tai)陽能(neng)控制(zhi)器(qi)、蓄電池（組）組成(cheng)。如輸(shu)出電源(yuan)為(wei)(wei)交流220V或110V，還需(xu)要配(pei)置逆變器(qi)。各部分的(de)作用為(wei)(wei)：

      （一）太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)電(dian)池(chi)板(ban)：太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)電(dian)池(chi)板(ban)是(shi)(shi)太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)發(fa)電(dian)系(xi)統中(zhong)的核心(xin)部分，也是(shi)(shi)太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)發(fa)電(dian)系(xi)統中(zhong)價值最高的部分。其作用(yong)是(shi)(shi)將(jiang)太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)的輻射能(neng)(neng)(neng)力轉(zhuan)換為電(dian)能(neng)(neng)(neng)，或(huo)送往(wang)蓄(xu)電(dian)池(chi)中(zhong)存儲(chu)起來，或(huo)推動負載工作。 

      （二）太(tai)陽(yang)能控(kong)(kong)制器(qi)：太(tai)陽(yang)能控(kong)(kong)制器(qi)的(de)(de)作(zuo)用(yong)是控(kong)(kong)制整個(ge)系統的(de)(de)工作(zuo)狀態，并對蓄電池(chi)起(qi)到過充電保(bao)護、過放電保(bao)護的(de)(de)作(zuo)用(yong)。在溫(wen)差較(jiao)大(da)的(de)(de)地方(fang)，合(he)格(ge)的(de)(de)控(kong)(kong)制器(qi)還應(ying)具備溫(wen)度補(bu)償的(de)(de)功能。其他(ta)附加功能如光控(kong)(kong)開關、時(shi)控(kong)(kong)開關都(dou)應(ying)當(dang)是控(kong)(kong)制器(qi)的(de)(de)可選項； 

      （三(san)）蓄電(dian)池(chi)：一般為(wei)鉛酸電(dian)池(chi)，小微型系統中，也可用鎳(nie)氫電(dian)池(chi)、鎳(nie)鎘電(dian)池(chi)或鋰電(dian)池(chi)。其作用是在(zai)有光照(zhao)時(shi)將太陽(yang)能(neng)電(dian)池(chi)板所發出的(de)電(dian)能(neng)儲存起來(lai)，到需要的(de)時(shi)候再釋放出來(lai)。 

      （四）逆(ni)變器(qi)：太陽能(neng)(neng)的直(zhi)接輸出(chu)一般都是12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為能(neng)(neng)向220VAC的電(dian)器(qi)提(ti)供電(dian)能(neng)(neng)，需要(yao)將太陽能(neng)(neng)發電(dian)系統所發出(chu)的直(zhi)流(liu)電(dian)能(neng)(neng)轉換成交流(liu)電(dian)能(neng)(neng)，因此(ci)需要(yao)使用DC-AC逆(ni)變器(qi)。