English 
Spanish 
3 min read 
4 comments 
A US company has created an innovative technology that turns heat into electricity, promising a more affordable and efficient source of energy.
The search for efficient and sustainable energy solutions has been a global priority. Recently, a promising innovation has gained prominence: the technology thermophotovoltaic (TPV), which converts stored heat into electricity.
Company Heat2Power (H2P), based in California, is at the forefront of this advancement and promises to offer energy at reduced costs for the industrial sector.
With the demand for electricity increasing and the need for cleaner solutions, this technology could be a game changer for industries that consume large amounts of energy and generate significant thermal waste.
- Russia tests nuclear missile with global range, highlighting military potential: RIA
- Historic feat! Researcher clones 700-year-old Araucaria tree that fell in Paraná and guarantees the preservation of the species!
- First patient with Elon Musk's Neuralink chip moves computer cursor using only brain signals decoded by brain implant
- Study led by Princeton and the University of California shows that it is possible to generate electricity with the Earth's rotation and magnetic field, discovery was published in March 2025
How Thermophotovoltaic (TPV) technology works, transforms heat into electricity
The devices TPV They are similar to traditional solar cells, but instead of converting sunlight into electricity, they use heat as an energy source.
Heat2Power co-founder Stephen Forrest explains: “Thermophotovoltaic devices are very similar to solar cells, except that they convert heat, as opposed to sunlight, into electricity.".
A technology can be integrated into thermal energy storage (TES) systems, allowing excess heat generated by industrial plants to be reused.
This not only reduces energy waste, but also improves the efficiency and sustainability of renewable sources like solar and wind.
The impact on the industrial sector
Energy waste in industry is a chronic problem. It is estimated that around 20% to 50% of the energy consumed is dissipated in the form of heat.
To give you an idea, in California alone, wasted solar energy could power approximately 300.000 homes.
With the implementation of Heat2Power’s TPV devices, this scenario could change dramatically. The company claims its technology has a heat-to-electricity conversion efficiency of over 44%, with the potential to exceed 50%.
This conversion rate is much higher than other technologies currently available on the market.
Viability and scalability
Another factor that makes this solution attractive is its compatibility with existing manufacturing processes.
Companies operating in the area of energy storage and reuse of residual heat are already showing great interest in technology.
"We have more customers for this than we can currently serve.”, revealed Forrest. The device was developed at the Lurie Nanofabrication Facility at the University of Michigan and promises to be a scalable solution for various industries, reducing operational costs and improving sustainability.
Heat2Power is betting that its technology will have a significant impact on the global energy transition.
With the market increasingly focused on reducing carbon emissions and optimizing the use of energy resources, solutions such as TPV devices can play a crucial role.
Advances in the efficiency of converting heat into electricity can encourage investment in thermal energy storage systems, creating a more efficient ecosystem for the generation and use of renewable energy.
Imagine this system adapted to hybrid vehicles, enhancing battery recharging and thus improving their autonomy.
There is an old technology that is capable of doing the same, but it was developed for refrigeration, called a Peltier tablet, does it have any relation to this new method?
This new technology comes in handy with the new sand battery created to store heat on a large scale.