A cold-climate and low-irradiance adaptive photovoltaic and thermoelectric generator hybrid system with enhanced efficiency

Integration of photovoltaic (PV) cells and thermoelectric generators (TEGs) enables efficient cascade energy utilization. This paper proposes a PV/TEG hybrid system suitable for regions with cold-climate and low-irradiance. The system achieves thermal insulation and promotes operation at optimal temperatures by combining Cu plates with rubber-plastic insulation wool. Consequently, four hybrid systems composed of PV cells, TEGs, phase change materials, and a Cu plate are simultaneously investigated. Among them, PV/Cu/TEG hybrid system demonstrates the best performance under conditions of low irradiance and low ambient temperature. The TEGs enhance waste heat recovery from PV cells through the Seebeck effect, contributing to the simultaneous realization of more homogeneous temperature distribution and slightly reduced PV temperature. Additionally, higher effective thermal conductivity of the Cu plate, in comparison with TEGs, facilitates superior heat accumulation at the TEG hot end. Finally, benefiting from the highest PV operating temperature among the four systems, the PV/Cu/TEG hybrid system achieves an average temperature increase of >3 °C closer the optimal level (10 °C ∼40 °C), an average conversion efficiency of 14.39%, and a relative net carbon dioxide reduction of 112.6 kg. Compared to the pure PV system, it demonstrated a relative conversion efficiency increase rate of 14.66% and a relative net carbon dioxide emission reduction benefit of 14.94%. This work supports the potential deployment of PV/TEG hybrid systems in regions with low irradiance and low ambient temperature regions.