Modeling and Simulation of a Novel Module for Thermoelectric Power Generation from Solar Photovoltaic Panels

Electricity is a basic need of humans in this modern era and plays a role of a backbone in our daily life as well as in the economic growth of a country. The efficiency of a power system is very important parameter which helps in analyzing its overall performance. So due to this reason effective and efficient utilization of solar energy is very important. Heat losses occurs in solar panels which reduces power output and hence overall efficiency is decreased. These heat losses can be utilized in such a way that works as waste heat recovery system. This system uses light and heat energy of the sun. When sunlight strikes the PN Junctions of solar PV panels, photovoltaic electricity is produced. Whereas, heat of sun and heat losses in the solar panels can be utilized and temperature difference is created by different means so as to generate electricity using thermoelectric cells (TEC) which works on the principle of Seebeck effect. Electricity generated from both sources can be common pooled and feed to the load either directly or it can be stored in batteries. This makes the system more effective and efficient.