太陽能源的利用最終歸結為太陽能利用和太陽光利用兩個方面。太陽能發電分為光伏發電和光熱發電，其中光伏發電就是利用光伏電池將太陽能直接轉化為電能。光伏發電不論在轉化效率、設備成本和發展前景尚都遠遠強于光熱發電。自從實用型多晶硅的光伏電池問世以來，世界上就便開始了太陽能光伏發電的應用。

目前(qian)，太(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)(neng)(neng)光(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)系(xi)統(tong)有三個發(fa)(fa)(fa)展(zhan)方(fang)向(xiang)：獨(du)立運行(xing)、并網(wang)型和(he)混合型光(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)系(xi)統(tong)。在獨(du)立運行(xing)系(xi)統(tong)中(zhong)，儲能(neng)(neng)(neng)(neng)單元一般(ban)是(shi)(shi)必須有的(de)，它(ta)能(neng)(neng)(neng)(neng)將由(you)日(ri)(ri)照時發(fa)(fa)(fa)出的(de)剩余電(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)(neng)(neng)儲存起來供日(ri)(ri)照不足或(huo)沒(mei)有日(ri)(ri)照時使(shi)用。目前(qian)，國際光(guang)(guang)伏能(neng)(neng)(neng)(neng)源產(chan)業的(de)需求開始由(you)邊(bian)遠(yuan)農村和(he)特(te)殊(shu)應用向(xiang)并網(wang)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)與建(jian)筑結合供電(dian)(dian)的(de)方(fang)向(xiang)發(fa)(fa)(fa)展(zhan)，光(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)已有補充能(neng)(neng)(neng)(neng)源向(xiang)替代能(neng)(neng)(neng)(neng)源過渡。國內光(guang)(guang)伏能(neng)(neng)(neng)(neng)源系(xi)統(tong)仍主要是(shi)(shi)用在邊(bian)遠(yuan)的(de)無電(dian)(dian)地區和(he)城(cheng)市(shi)路燈、草坪(ping)燈、庭院燈、廣告牌等(deng)獨(du)立光(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)系(xi)統(tong)。通過蓄電(dian)(dian)池組構(gou)成的(de)儲能(neng)(neng)(neng)(neng)系(xi)統(tong)，能(neng)(neng)(neng)(neng)夠熨平太(tai)陽光(guang)(guang)照強度波(bo)動(dong)導(dao)致的(de)電(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)(neng)(neng)波(bo)動(dong)，還可以補償電(dian)(dian)網(wang)系(xi)統(tong)中(zhong)的(de)電(dian)(dian)壓驟降或(huo)突升，但是(shi)(shi)由(you)于其充放電(dian)(dian)次數有限、大電(dian)(dian)流(liu)充放電(dian)(dian)時間較慢(man)等(deng)因素(su)，因此其使(shi)用壽命(ming)較短(duan)，成本較高。因此，在太(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)(neng)(neng)光(guang)(guang)伏發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)系(xi)統(tong)中(zhong)采用超級電(dian)(dian)容器組將使(shi)其并網(wang)發(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)更具有可行(xing)性。