Photovoltaic-Thermoelectric Generators: Improving Efficiency in Power Beaming

A team of researchers from China and the United Arab Emirates has proposed a photovoltaic–thermoelectric generator (PV-TEG) module for use in the receiving subsystem of a laser wireless power transmission (LWPT) system. They tested the module under low, moderate, and high atmospheric turbulence conditions, finding that it mitigated thermal stress and improved PV receiver performance. LWPT, also known as power beaming, transmits energy over long distances using a laser for transmission and a photovoltaic (PV) component in the receiving subsystem. Both single and multijunction cells are being evaluated for use in such receivers. Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) convert heat into electricity through the Seebeck effect, which occurs when a temperature difference between two dissimilar semiconductors produces a voltage difference. TEGs are commonly used in industrial applications to recover waste heat and convert it into electricity. However, their high cost and limited efficiency have so far restricted their broader adoption. In PV-TEG systems, the PV panel generates power during the day, while the TEG harnesses temperature differences around the cell to produce electricity at night.