Record electricity-to-gas-power efficiency of a silicon solar cell based TPV system

We report on the fabrication and detailed optical characterisation of a selective incandescent mantle Yb₂O₃ emitter. A TPV prototype system was built by arranging commercially available monocrystalline silicon solar cells around the emitter. This system reached, without preheating of the combustion air, a record electricity-to-gas power efficiency of 2.4%. A model is presented which allows an accurate simulation of the system properties. First experiments with a demonstration system based on a 20 kW methane burner and a 500 cm² emitter gives evidence that this TPV design can be up-scaled. An optimisation of this system and the integration of a highly selective filter should permit the realisation of a high power (> 1 kW) cost effective silicon TPV system for decentralised generation of electricity in residential heating systems.