Source: Frauenhofer
ISE, Freiburg

Thermal photovoltaics (TPV) is an energy conversion procedure in which thermal radiation in special photovoltaic cells is transformed directly into electric energy.

Particularly noteworthy are the very high power densities in proportion to photovoltaics.  Thus, while a solar cell the size of a postcard can produce around 1.5 W in the sunlight, a thermal photovoltaic generator of the same size could theoretically produce 300 to 500 W!

Within the framework of “CLEAN ENERGY POWER® 2005”, the “Conference for Thermophotovoltaics: Science to Business” will take place for the first time on January 27, 2005, in the International Congress Centre (ICC) in Berlin.  It will provide an overview not only of the research development, but also of potential areas of application.

More information about thermal photovoltaic is available at the Paul Scherrer Institute and at www.energie.ch (German).