This study investigates the feasibility of thermoelectric generators (TEGs) for recovering waste heat from building systems and converting it into electrical energy through the Seebeck effect. A journal-scale simulation framework integrating ANSYS thermal modeling with MATLAB/Simulink electrical analysis was developed to evaluate TEG deployment on building envelope surfaces at the Federal Polytechnic Nyak Shendam, Nigeria. Results demonstrate a proportional increase in electrical output with rising temperature gradients, confirming predictable thermoelectric performance under practical environmental conditions. Roof and wall installations exhibited the highest recovery potential, producing approximately 3–15 W per module depending on thermal differentials and operating parameters. Model validation showed strong agreement between simulation platforms, with deviations remaining below 6%, indicating reliable predictive capability for engineering design and optimization. Parametric studies further identified optimal electrical load resistance, module arrangement, and surface placement strategies to maximize conversion efficiency and power stability. Techno-economic analysis revealed a feasible investment profile, including an estimated payback period of seven years, a net present value of USD 2,150, and an internal rate of return of 15%, supporting long-term deployment potential in institutional buildings. Environmental impact assessment projected annual electricity savings of 7,096 kWh alongside a reduction of approximately 6.03 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, demonstrating measurable sustainability benefits. Overall, the findings confirm that TEG-based waste heat recovery offers a technically viable, economically practical, and environmentally sustainable solution for decentralized, low-power building energy systems in developing regions. The proposed framework also supports scalable retrofitting strategies, enabling integration with existing infrastructure while maintaining minimal maintenance requirements over time.

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1. González-Torres M, Pérez-Lombard L, Coronel JF, Maestre IR, Yan D. A review on buildings energy information: Trends, end-uses, fuels and drivers. Energy Rep. 2022;8:626–37.
2. Sharma A, Singh SN, Serratos MM, Sahu D, Strezov V. Urban energy transition in smart cities: A comprehensive review of sustainability and innovation. Sustain Futures. 2025;10:100940.
3. Cao X, Dai X, Liu J. Building energy-consumption status worldwide and the state-of-the-art technologies for zero-energy buildings during the past decade. Energy Build. 2016;128:198–213.
4. Santamouris M, Vasilakopoulou K. Present and future energy consumption of buildings: Challenges and opportunities towards decarbonisation. e-Prime Adv Electr Eng Electron Energy. 2021;1:100002.
5. Tian J, Wang P, Zhu D. Overview of Chinese new energy vehicle industry and policy development. Green Energy Resour. 2024;2(2):100075.
6. Liu M, Wang J, Zhang L, Zhang X. Does urbanization promote the rural residential energy transition? Evidence from China based on the two-stage dynamic Spatial Durbin model. Habitat Int. 2025;163:103473.
7. Aslam MHR. Advancements in thermoelectric materials and their performance for thermoelectric generators (TEGs): A short review. Chem Inorg Mater. 2025;7:100118.
8. Mahek MK, Ramadan M, bin Dol SS, Ghazal M, Alkhedher M. A comprehensive review of thermoelectric cooling technologies for enhanced thermal management in lithium-ion battery systems. Heliyon. 2024;10(24).
9. Shi XL, Li NH, Li M, Chen ZG. Toward efficient thermoelectric materials and devices: Advances, challenges, and opportunities. Chem Rev. 2025;125(16):7525–7724.
10. Yang L, Chen ZG, Dargusch MS, Zou J. High performance thermoelectric materials: progress and their applications. Adv Energy Mater. 2018;8(6):1701797.
11. Nagappan B, et al. Advances in thermoelectronic materials and devices for self-sustaining wearable and IoT systems. J Sci Adv Mater Devices. 2025;10(4):101059.
12. Chen CY, Du KW, Chung YC, Wu CI. Advancements in thermoelectric generator design: Exploring heat exchanger efficiency and material properties. Energies. 2024;17(2):453.
13. Wang L, Ma G, Zhou F, Liu Y, Tian T. Multicriteria decision-making approach for selecting ventilation heat recovery devices based on the attributes of buildings and the preferences of decision makers. Sustain Cities Soc. 2019;51:101753.
14. Shahnazari A, Rafiee M, Rohani A, Nagar BB, Ebrahiminik MA, Aghkhani MH. Identification of effective factors to select energy recovery technologies from municipal solid waste using multi-criteria decision making (MCDM): A review of thermochemical technologies. Sustain Energy Technol Assess. 2020;40:100737.
15. Bhatt BK, Akram W, Khan O, Parvez M, Ahmad S. A methodology for multi-criteria assessment of chiller plants for building setup utilising waste heat and solar energy. Sustain Anal Model. 2023;3:100022.
16. Feng J, Cheng X, Yan Y, Zhao L, Dong H. Thermodynamic and thermo-economic analysis, performance comparison and parameter optimization of basic and regenerative organic Rankine cycles for waste heat recovery. Case Stud Therm Eng. 2023;52:103816.
17. Liao J, et al. Effect of operating conditions on the output performance of a compact TEG for low-grade geothermal energy utilization. Appl Therm Eng. 2024;236:121878.
18. Ma X, Hu S, Hu W, Luo Y, Cheng H. Experimental investigation of waste heat recovery of thermoelectric generators with temperature gradient. Int J Heat Mass Transf. 2022;185:122342.
19. Luo Y, Li L, Chen Y, Kim CN. Influence of geometric parameter and contact resistances on the thermal-electric behavior of a segmented TEG. Energy. 2022;254:124487.
20. Üstüner MA, Mamur H, Taşkın S. Modeling and validation of the thermoelectric generator with considering the change of the Seebeck effect and internal resistance. Turk J Electr Eng Comput Sci. 2022;30(7):2688–2706.
21. Lv JR, Ma JL, Dai L, Yin T, He ZZ. A high-performance wearable thermoelectric generator with comprehensive optimization of thermal resistance and voltage boosting conversion. Appl Energy. 2022;312:118696.
22. Kim S. Analysis and modeling of effective temperature differences and electrical parameters of thermoelectric generators. Appl Energy. 2013;102:1458–63.
23. Ziemele J, Dace E. An analytical framework for assessing the integration of the waste heat into a district heating system: Case of the city of Riga. Energy. 2022;254:124285.

This study investigates the feasibility of thermoelectric generators (TEGs) for recovering waste heat from building systems and converting it into electrical energy through the Seebeck effect. A journal-scale simulation framework integrating ANSYS thermal modeling with MATLAB/Simulink electrical analysis was developed to evaluate TEG deployment on building envelope surfaces at the Federal Polytechnic Nyak Shendam, Nigeria. Results demonstrate a proportional increase in electrical output with rising temperature gradients, confirming predictable thermoelectric performance under practical environmental conditions. Roof and wall installations exhibited the highest recovery potential, producing approximately 3–15 W per module depending on thermal differentials and operating parameters. Model validation showed strong agreement between simulation platforms, with deviations remaining below 6%, indicating reliable predictive capability for engineering design and optimization. Parametric studies further identified optimal electrical load resistance, module arrangement, and surface placement strategies to maximize conversion efficiency and power stability. Techno-economic analysis revealed a feasible investment profile, including an estimated payback period of seven years, a net present value of USD 2,150, and an internal rate of return of 15%, supporting long-term deployment potential in institutional buildings. Environmental impact assessment projected annual electricity savings of 7,096 kWh alongside a reduction of approximately 6.03 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, demonstrating measurable sustainability benefits. Overall, the findings confirm that TEG-based waste heat recovery offers a technically viable, economically practical, and environmentally sustainable solution for decentralized, low-power building energy systems in developing regions. The proposed framework also supports scalable retrofitting strategies, enabling integration with existing infrastructure while maintaining minimal maintenance requirements over time.

🔒 This is a subscription article

Full text is available to subscribers and institutional members. Please choose an option below to access it.

1. González-Torres M, Pérez-Lombard L, Coronel JF, Maestre IR, Yan D. A review on buildings energy information: Trends, end-uses, fuels and drivers. Energy Rep. 2022;8:626–37.
2. Sharma A, Singh SN, Serratos MM, Sahu D, Strezov V. Urban energy transition in smart cities: A comprehensive review of sustainability and innovation. Sustain Futures. 2025;10:100940.
3. Cao X, Dai X, Liu J. Building energy-consumption status worldwide and the state-of-the-art technologies for zero-energy buildings during the past decade. Energy Build. 2016;128:198–213.
4. Santamouris M, Vasilakopoulou K. Present and future energy consumption of buildings: Challenges and opportunities towards decarbonisation. e-Prime Adv Electr Eng Electron Energy. 2021;1:100002.
5. Tian J, Wang P, Zhu D. Overview of Chinese new energy vehicle industry and policy development. Green Energy Resour. 2024;2(2):100075.
6. Liu M, Wang J, Zhang L, Zhang X. Does urbanization promote the rural residential energy transition? Evidence from China based on the two-stage dynamic Spatial Durbin model. Habitat Int. 2025;163:103473.
7. Aslam MHR. Advancements in thermoelectric materials and their performance for thermoelectric generators (TEGs): A short review. Chem Inorg Mater. 2025;7:100118.
8. Mahek MK, Ramadan M, bin Dol SS, Ghazal M, Alkhedher M. A comprehensive review of thermoelectric cooling technologies for enhanced thermal management in lithium-ion battery systems. Heliyon. 2024;10(24).
9. Shi XL, Li NH, Li M, Chen ZG. Toward efficient thermoelectric materials and devices: Advances, challenges, and opportunities. Chem Rev. 2025;125(16):7525–7724.
10. Yang L, Chen ZG, Dargusch MS, Zou J. High performance thermoelectric materials: progress and their applications. Adv Energy Mater. 2018;8(6):1701797.
11. Nagappan B, et al. Advances in thermoelectronic materials and devices for self-sustaining wearable and IoT systems. J Sci Adv Mater Devices. 2025;10(4):101059.
12. Chen CY, Du KW, Chung YC, Wu CI. Advancements in thermoelectric generator design: Exploring heat exchanger efficiency and material properties. Energies. 2024;17(2):453.
13. Wang L, Ma G, Zhou F, Liu Y, Tian T. Multicriteria decision-making approach for selecting ventilation heat recovery devices based on the attributes of buildings and the preferences of decision makers. Sustain Cities Soc. 2019;51:101753.
14. Shahnazari A, Rafiee M, Rohani A, Nagar BB, Ebrahiminik MA, Aghkhani MH. Identification of effective factors to select energy recovery technologies from municipal solid waste using multi-criteria decision making (MCDM): A review of thermochemical technologies. Sustain Energy Technol Assess. 2020;40:100737.
15. Bhatt BK, Akram W, Khan O, Parvez M, Ahmad S. A methodology for multi-criteria assessment of chiller plants for building setup utilising waste heat and solar energy. Sustain Anal Model. 2023;3:100022.
16. Feng J, Cheng X, Yan Y, Zhao L, Dong H. Thermodynamic and thermo-economic analysis, performance comparison and parameter optimization of basic and regenerative organic Rankine cycles for waste heat recovery. Case Stud Therm Eng. 2023;52:103816.
17. Liao J, et al. Effect of operating conditions on the output performance of a compact TEG for low-grade geothermal energy utilization. Appl Therm Eng. 2024;236:121878.
18. Ma X, Hu S, Hu W, Luo Y, Cheng H. Experimental investigation of waste heat recovery of thermoelectric generators with temperature gradient. Int J Heat Mass Transf. 2022;185:122342.
19. Luo Y, Li L, Chen Y, Kim CN. Influence of geometric parameter and contact resistances on the thermal-electric behavior of a segmented TEG. Energy. 2022;254:124487.
20. Üstüner MA, Mamur H, Taşkın S. Modeling and validation of the thermoelectric generator with considering the change of the Seebeck effect and internal resistance. Turk J Electr Eng Comput Sci. 2022;30(7):2688–2706.
21. Lv JR, Ma JL, Dai L, Yin T, He ZZ. A high-performance wearable thermoelectric generator with comprehensive optimization of thermal resistance and voltage boosting conversion. Appl Energy. 2022;312:118696.
22. Kim S. Analysis and modeling of effective temperature differences and electrical parameters of thermoelectric generators. Appl Energy. 2013;102:1458–63.
23. Ziemele J, Dace E. An analytical framework for assessing the integration of the waste heat into a district heating system: Case of the city of Riga. Energy. 2022;254:124285.