CTEC - Center for Thermoelectric Energy Conversion

More than 50% of all energy produced by mankind is wasted as heat. One example is automobiles where only one third of the energy in the fuel is used for locomotion while the rest is lost as heat e.g. from the exhaust section. Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) can convert some of that waste heat into useful electricity, and TEGs can therefore potentially play a very important role in a future sustainable energy system. However, grand-scale application requires development of cheap, stable and high-yield TEGs. Based on a number of patents filed within Center for Energy Materials (CEM, 2008-13), the new Center for Thermoelectric Energy Conversion (CTEC) will embody Danish research efforts within the field and i.a. contribute to the development of the world’s first commercial TEG. Danish university research groups (AU, AAU, DTU), industrial partners (TEGnology, Alpcon, Aalborg Portland) and international partners (Chalmers, PANCO and Thermo-Gen) are combined into a team in full possession of the required interdisciplinary competences. CTEC has four main goals: (1) Development of high-yield thermoelectric materials, (2) Development of a commercial TEG, (3) Integration of TEGs to harvest energy from the waste heat, (4) Development of a thin-film based TEG.

Within CTEC, universities and industry will work closely together towards a common goal and thereby ensure education of young researchers to the highest level along with direct industrial exploitation of the knowledge generated.