DEVELOPMENT, EXPERIMENTAL CHARACTERIZATION, AND PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF A HYBRID SOLAR–THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR UTILIZING BIO-COAL AND COCONUT KERNEL FEEDSTOCKS

Abstract

The Philippines, a global leader in coconut production, generates approximately 9 billion discarded coconut husks annually, posing significant environmental challenges. This study explored the potential of harnessing this underutilized biomass as a feedstock for electrical energy generation using thermoelectric technology.The research focused on the thermochemical conversion of bio-coal and copra into electricity through the Seebeck effect. Experimental results demonstrated that an instantaneous feeding of 1kg of biomass produced a peak output of 1.200V at a temperature of 196°C . Comparative analysis revealed that a larger fuel mass (1kg) achieved significantly higher peak temperatures (492°C) compared to smaller batches (500g), confirming the high energy density of coconut-based fuels. However, the study also identified a critical failure point: the burnout of the Thermoelectric Cooler (TEC) module due to the use of combustible structural materials (plywood) and low-thermal-tolerance adhesives (epoxy). The findings suggest that while coconut waste is a highly effective fuel source, system reliability depends on the transition from TEC to dedicated TEG modules and the implementation of refractory shielding. This research provides a foundational framework for developing sustainable, off-grid renewable energy solutions in coconut-producing regions like Eastern Visayas.