HYDRES (Hybrid photovoltaic-thermoelectric systems for solar energy harvesting)

An emerging strategy for the recovery of the energy lost thermally in a photovoltaic solar cell consists in coupling this cell to a thermoelectric generator (TEG), in an optimized hybrid photovoltaic-thermoelectric (PV-TE) system.

The HYDRES project is part of this objective and exploits the synergy between researchers from different scientific communities. The main challenges of HYDRES are the following:

• To design an efficient and reliable thermo-plasmonic interface, based on nano-antennas, capable of absorbing photons close to the IR (0.9-2.5mm) and converting their energy at the PV-TE device interface
• Design and integrate a thermoelectric generator optimized for the system (PV-TE) as well as its external metallic contacts;
• Optimize the power delivered by the system (PV-TE) by designing an intelligent electronic interface, adapted to the electrical connection mode of the two PV and TE sources