Thermoelectric heat-pumps for energy savings in houses

Thermoelectric devices (Peltier elements) may be used to generate electricity by operating between two different temperatures, or conversely, as heat-pumps for cooling or heating by sending direct current through the device. Thus, the thermoelectric pheno menon has potential as an environmentally friendly avenue for both harvesting energy and for saving energy. Limited by the state-of-the-art thermoelectric materials, the efficiency of the thermoelectric devices is at present considered inadequate for larg e scale electricity generation and for cooling. However, the situation appears much brighter with respect to applying thermoelectric heat-pumps for heating of houses, especially in Norway where a large part of the homes are heated with electricity. In thi s project we intend to test the efficiency of thermoelectric heat-pumps, combined with materials development to improve relevant thermoelectric materials.