Analysis of Energy Harvesting Optimization for Series Connected Hybrid Photovoltaic‐Thermoelectric Systems

This study addresses the tracking of the maximal electrical power generated in series‐connected hybrid photovoltaic‐thermoelectric (PV‐TE) energy harvesting systems in low‐power applications. The integration of PV‐TE technologies in a hybrid energy harvesting system enhances electricity generation from sunlight by combining the properties of PV cells with the thermoelectric effect in thermoelectric generators. However, the inherent differences in electrical characteristics between the photovoltaic cell and the thermoelectric generator pose challenges in achieving the maximum power point (MPP) for the overall hybrid system. This work reviews the potential of the “differential power processing” (DPP) approach, as well as the associated architectures, DC–DC converter topologies, and maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithms. The final goal of this study is to identify the most suitable solutions for low‐power hybrid PV‐TE systems connected in series, implementing the DPP approach.