A Hybrid Photovoltaic-Thermoelectric Energy Harvester for Day and Night Automobile Applications
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Automobiles and other industries waste substantial energy as heat. Conventional photovoltaic power generation in daylight is unavailable at night. In this study a portable hybrid photovoltaic–thermoelectric energy-harvesting prototype is developed to generate electrical power from solar energy during the day and thermal energy at night. The daytime subsystem used a monocrystalline-silicon photovoltaic panel positioned between adjustable aluminum reflectors. Reflector angles, voltage, and electrical power were measured with a protractor, multi-meter and power meter, while an Arduino-based photoresistor circuit monitored light intensity. The nighttime subsystem used four bismuth-telluride thermoelectric generators connected with an aluminum plate and heat sink; voltage was measured under clear and cloudy nighttime conditions. Dual reflectors increased photovoltaic power efficiency by up to 34%, with an optimum reflector angle near 43°, and the measured prototype results in power generation of 130 W m⁻², extrapolated to a potential 156 W for a typical windshield area. The thermoelectric subsystem produced a mean 62.97 mV under clear sky and 45.1 mV under cloudy sky, corresponding to reported power densities of 35.9 and 18.4 mW m⁻², respectively. The prototype demonstrates complementary day/night energy harvesting, although full-scale automobile validation and higher-output thermoelectric materials are needed.
Author: Ayan Bera
Language: English
Field: Energy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7211907499