Development and Evaluation of a Thermoelectric Generator From Sun‐Heated Metallic Rooftop for Rural Areas

This study presents the experimental development and evaluation of a roof‐based thermoelectric generator (TEG) system, highlighting its potential and the key factors influencing its performance. With over 770 million people in Africa lacking access to electricity, particularly in rural areas, the research addresses the urgent need for decentralized, low‐cost, and sustainable energy solutions. The metallic roof served as the hot junction, whereas passive air or water cooling maintained the temperature gradient across TEC1‐12706 Peltier modules. A factorial design of experiment tested eight configurations, varying coolant type, roof color, and roof exposure to atmosphere. Statistical analysis using Minitab confirmed the significance of all three factors and their two‐way interactions. The optimal configuration, a black roof covered with transparent glass and cooled by water, achieved a maximum temperature difference of 43.16°C and an output voltage of 4.226 V using four modules. Integrated with the designed DC–DC booster converter, this setup successfully powered a 12‐V DC light bulb and charged mobile phones. In practice, the devices operated reliably, verifying that the system delivered sufficient and stable electrical output for real applications. Comparative analysis with previous studies showed that the roof‐based TEG system outperformed similar setups in terms of output voltage, even compared with systems using stronger heat sources such as electric heaters, brick furnaces, and automobile exhausts. This reveals the great capacity of roof‐based TEG systems to serve as a practical renewable energy solution for the future. The roof‐based TEG system offers substantial environmental and socioeconomic benefits. It reduces reliance on biomass and fossil fuels, lowers greenhouse gas emissions, and provides a clean, renewable energy source that can be integrated into existing rooftops without major structural modifications. The system′s simplicity, scalability, and minimal maintenance requirements make it particularly suitable for rural electrification. This research establishes a strong foundation for the practical implementation of roof‐based thermoelectric generation and underscores its potential as a transformative solution for clean energy access in underserved communities.