太陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)分光熱發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)和光伏發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)。不(bu)論產銷量、發(fa)(fa)(fa)展速度和發(fa)(fa)(fa)展前景(jing)、光熱發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)都趕不(bu)上光伏發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)。可能(neng)因光伏發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)普及較廣(guang)而(er)接觸光熱發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)較少(shao)，通(tong)常民間(jian)所說的(de)太陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)往往指的(de)就是(shi)太陽(yang)(yang)能(neng)光伏發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)，簡稱(cheng)光電(dian)(dian)。

       光(guang)伏(fu)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)是根據(ju)光(guang)生(sheng)伏(fu)特(te)效(xiao)應原理,利用(yong)太陽能(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池將太陽光(guang)能(neng)直接轉化為(wei)電(dian)(dian)(dian)能(neng)。不(bu)論(lun)是獨立使用(yong)還是并網發電(dian)(dian)(dian),光(guang)伏(fu)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)系統主要(yao)由太陽能(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池板（組(zu)(zu)件(jian)(jian)）、控制器和(he)逆(ni)變(bian)器三大部(bu)分組(zu)(zu)成(cheng)，它們主要(yao)由電(dian)(dian)(dian)子元器件(jian)(jian)構成(cheng)，不(bu)涉及機械部(bu)件(jian)(jian),所以,光(guang)伏(fu)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)設備極為(wei)精煉,可靠穩(wen)定壽(shou)命長(chang)、安(an)裝維護簡便。理論(lun)上講,光(guang)伏(fu)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)技術可以用(yong)于任何需要(yao)電(dian)(dian)(dian)源的(de)場(chang)合,上至航(hang)天(tian)器,下至家(jia)用(yong)電(dian)(dian)(dian)源,大到兆(zhao)瓦級電(dian)(dian)(dian)站,小到玩具,光(guang)伏(fu)電(dian)(dian)(dian)源無處不(bu)在。國(guo)產(chan)晶體硅電(dian)(dian)(dian)池效(xiao)率在10至13%左右，國(guo)外同類(lei)產(chan)品效(xiao)率約(yue)12至14%。由一個(ge)或多個(ge)太陽能(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池片組(zu)(zu)成(cheng)的(de)太陽能(neng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池板稱為(wei)光(guang)伏(fu)組(zu)(zu)件(jian)(jian)。

       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)(qi)、蓄電池（組）組成(cheng)。如輸出(chu)電源為交流220V或110V，還需要配置逆變(bian)器(qi)(qi)。各部分(fen)的作用為：

      （一）太(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)電池板：太(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)電池板是太(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)發(fa)電系統中的核心部(bu)分，也是太(tai)(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)發(fa)電系統中價值最高的部(bu)分。其作用是將太(tai)(tai)陽的輻射能(neng)(neng)力轉換為電能(neng)(neng)，或(huo)送(song)往蓄(xu)電池中存儲起來，或(huo)推(tui)動(dong)負載工作。 

      （二(er)）太陽(yang)(yang)能控(kong)制(zhi)器：太陽(yang)(yang)能控(kong)制(zhi)器的(de)作用(yong)(yong)是(shi)控(kong)制(zhi)整個系統(tong)的(de)工作狀(zhuang)態，并對蓄(xu)電池起到過(guo)充電保護、過(guo)放電保護的(de)作用(yong)(yong)。在(zai)溫差較大的(de)地方，合格的(de)控(kong)制(zhi)器還應(ying)具備溫度(du)補償的(de)功能。其(qi)他附加功能如光控(kong)開關、時控(kong)開關都應(ying)當是(shi)控(kong)制(zhi)器的(de)可選項(xiang)； 

      （三）蓄電(dian)(dian)池：一般(ban)為鉛酸電(dian)(dian)池，小(xiao)微型系(xi)統中，也可用鎳(nie)氫(qing)電(dian)(dian)池、鎳(nie)鎘電(dian)(dian)池或(huo)鋰電(dian)(dian)池。其作用是在有光照時將太(tai)陽能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池板所(suo)發出(chu)的電(dian)(dian)能(neng)儲存(cun)起(qi)來，到需(xu)要的時候再(zai)釋(shi)放出(chu)來。 

      （四）逆變器：太陽(yang)(yang)能的(de)直(zhi)接輸出(chu)一(yi)般都是(shi)12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為能向220VAC的(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)器提供電(dian)(dian)(dian)能，需(xu)(xu)要(yao)(yao)將太陽(yang)(yang)能發電(dian)(dian)(dian)系統所(suo)發出(chu)的(de)直(zhi)流(liu)(liu)電(dian)(dian)(dian)能轉換成(cheng)交流(liu)(liu)電(dian)(dian)(dian)能，因此需(xu)(xu)要(yao)(yao)使用DC-AC逆變器。