A so-called second-generation thermoelectric (GEN2 TE) materials has emerged: silicides and half-Heusler. Based on these low-cost, mostly earth-abundant elements and eco-friendly materials, ThermoElectric Generators (TEGs) can impact positively European industry and society by converting waste heat into electricity.
The aim of INTEGRAL is to upscale the GEN2 TE material technology on existing pilot lines in order to address mass markets TE needs in three value chains:
• Automotive and heavy duty trucks value chains, where combustion engines use only a part of the fuel to move the vehicle. The rest is heat lost to the environment. INTEGRAL TE generators will make it possible to convert this to electricity
• Industry waste heat recovery value chain: metal, glass and ceramics production and conversion are made at high temperature, and the thermal energy is usually wasted at the end of the processes. Instead, it will be harvested to electricity by INTEGRAL TEGs
INTEGRAL has developed systems integrating multifunctional TE materials through material customization, new techniques for characterization and process control and up-scaled pilot-line demonstrations of reliability, reproducibility and mastered material consumption.
It is generally considered that high energy costs favour all technical solutions allowing energy savings. However, energy is currently still comparatively cheap. This makes INTEGRAL solutions less attractive than they should be, while in many economic sectors the geostrategic and political situation is changing fast, causing many uncertainties. Someday inevitably, energy prices will increase, and INTEGRAL solutions will be ready for implementation, provided they get appropriate incentives from public authorities. For instance, so-called CO2 certificates are under discussion, the costs of which are not fixed yet. They will affect the cost of oil-based electricity and thereby increase the interest for TEGs.
