Trigeneration of photovoltage, thermovoltage, and water via atmospheric water harvesting

Solar-driven co-generation of water and electricity has garnered considerable attention due to its potential environmental benefits. However, the current hybrid systems face challenges in low solar efficiency and water productivity. This paper presents a novel integrated hybrid system (referring to WECS) for the trigeneration of photovoltage, thermovoltage, and condensate water with the assistance of atmospheric water harvesting. A stacked photovoltaic-thermoelectric generator (PV-TEG) is bonded together by a moisture absorbent (MA). The MA leverages the moisture absorption in darkness and then absorbs the waste heat conducting from the PV-TEG for evaporation in light. The evaporated vapor is collected by a coppery condenser under the MA. In this WECS configuration, a notable condensation water yield of 1.03 kg m −2 h −1 and an exceptional condensation power of 698 W m −2 is obtained. Moreover, the electricity generation efficiency of the PV panel is enhanced by ∼16 % compared to a standalone PV panel under 1 sun illumination. Importantly, the utilization of MA in WECS results in a 1.48-fold increase in the output power of TEG compared to utilizing a commercial heat sink. These findings underscore the crucial role of attaching MA to the cold end of the TEG in augmenting the overall electricity generation performance of the WECS.