Thermo-electricity

thermoelectricitgy

Direct conversion of heat gradients to electricity

In the quest for energy efficiency, the utilization of thermo-electricy has emerged as a novel and promising alternative. Utilizing waste heat from industries is a potentially fertile ground for the electricity generation. Although the basic principles of thermo-electricity are well understood, the construction and scaling of installations proves to be challenging.

While the search for alternative sources of energy continues, thermoelectricity has emerged as a highly promising and novel alternative to traditional heat pumps and heat engines. The technology surrounding thermoelectricity relies on thermoelectric materials that make up the thermoelectric module. These special materials make it possible to convert heat gradients, having one cold and one hot source directly into electricity, or to apply electricity to these materials to heat or cool. This technology works without relying on any moving parts or working fluids or gases. Thermoelectricity is thus a technology which excellent flexibility, scalability, portability and longevity. In addition to the recovery of waste heat, thermoelectricity can also be used to generate electricity from heat sources where no other alternative exist or is suitable.

Considering that the most common energy conversion processes expel almost 60% of the input energy as waste heat, recovering parts of this energy would have tremendous impact on multiple levels. In this setting, thermoelectricity is expected to contribute, particularly in areas where it is difficult to utilize the waste energy as a direct heat source in steam engines, buildings or in general to heat water. Examples of this are waste heat in the transport sector (including sea vessels and airplanes) and waste heat from industrial processing plants. Furthermore, it is possible to generate electricity from small temperature gradients of a few degrees, which open new possibilities for applications and selfsustainability of integrated technology.

Challenges

Large scale commercialization of thermoelectricity is today limited by too low conversion efficiency, commercial challenges such as up-scaling and high production costs, environmental issues due to the heavy and toxic elements composing the module and finally, degradation over time.

The tightly interwoven relationship between electricity and heat is inherent to these modules and involves the exploration of uncharted territories related to the understanding of the basic principles in material science. Further development of this technology depends on long-term research investments in order to obtain the necessary knowledge to fully map these interactions.

Recommendations

Addressing these issues would put Norway on the map internationally, not only as a nation developing stateof-the-art technology at lab scale in Universities and Research Institutions, but also as a country that generates a breeding ground for venture companies outside the oil sector. Most importantly, Norway will contribute by taking responsibilities for the world’s need to use energy

in a more sustainable manner. We recommend that Norway pursues this path. The challenges that need to be addressed are multidimensional and must to be executed on several levels. To develop a mature technology, investments in basic and applied research must be sustained over a period of decades. At the same time, funding need to be available in order to stimulate commercialization during this period.

R&D recommendations:

• Elevate current state-of-the-art efficiency by new materials solutions and concepts.

• Research to eliminate the us of toxic and non-abundant materials in thermoelectric applications.

• Reduce the degradation of modules and their materials. policy recommendations:

• Stimulate commercialization efforts, particularly related to up-scaling and the production of modules containing non-toxic and abundant elements.