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THERMOELECTRICITY

Bring on the heat

Nature Energy volume 3, pages 92–93 (2018)Cite this article

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One third of industrial processes occur at high temperatures above 1300 K, but current methods of waste heat recovery at these temperatures are limited. Now, reduced graphene oxide is shown to be a highly efficient and reliable thermoelectric material up to 3000 K.

The transition to a more sustainable basis for the world’s energy supply necessarily addresses two major sectors of energy demand: electric power supply and heat supply. The electric power supply performs this transition via the integration of renewable energy sources. The heat supply, although not discussed as often in the political and scientific debate, constitutes between a third and a half of total energy demand and greenhouse emissions. For example, the heating and cooling sector accounts for approximately 50% of overall European Union (EU) final energy consumption1. Importantly, where heat is produced, waste heat is also produced. Efficient heat management and waste heat recovery systems are therefore an important aspect of the global energy transition.

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Fig. 1: Total industrial energy demand and availability of commercial thermoelectric generators.

References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Leibniz-Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (IFW Dresden), Dresden, Germany

    Gabi Schierning

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  1. Gabi Schierning
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Correspondence to Gabi Schierning.

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Schierning, G. Bring on the heat. Nat Energy 3, 92–93 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-018-0093-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-018-0093-4

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