Germanium is the future of power generation from heat

At a time when cost-effective energy alternatives are desperately sought, researchers at the Crismat laboratory in Caen (France) have achieved a technological breakthrough. They have developed a germanium crystal that can generate electricity from thermal energy. This thermoelectric crystal is simple and profitable to produce on an industrial scale, and is also non-toxic. As the world continues to get hotter and many governments have agreed to switch to “green” electricity in the shortest possible time, this technological milestone can provide a solution. What if we could simply short-circuit the vicious cycle of global warming and convert excess heat directly into electrical energy?

While thermoelectric materials have existed before, they were far too expensive due to the components used. However, the newly developed germanium crystal opens up a sea of new possibilities. Sun-rich regions, such as in Australia or Africa, could utilize this new technology alongside conventional solar parks to generate solar energy. This would cover a much larger portion of the power supply with alternative energies. Moreover, its use in private households in hot regions would also be conceivable. This could tackle two problems at once: power supply and indoor cooling.

The crystal is stable at temperatures up to 400 °C, which also makes it suitable for industrial use, converting waste heat generated during production. Factories could thus produce a portion of the electricity they need themselves.

Germanium can do even more than that, by the way. It masters a whole range of “success disciplines,” and an investment offers the prospect of attractive returns.