TEG Infrastructure
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TLDR

Goal: Determine whether thermoelectric generation (TEG) is a viable power source for Ti Kaye, and if so, where to deploy it.

Conclusion: Not viable as primary power. At $10–40/W installed versus $1.50–3.50/W for solar, the economics don't work at scale. TEG is worth deploying in three specific niches only: portable guest/staff charging, diesel generator exhaust recovery, and kitchen flue scavenging.

Next steps: Build one Config A portable unit to validate the technology on-site. Measure generator exhaust temperature to determine retrofit viability. Keep expanding the 45kW solar array for all high-load needs.

Immediate requirements: $1,600–2,400 for Config A hardware. One site visit to measure exhaust temperature. No contractor required for either.

Output Reality Check

The Critical Constraint

Single module ceiling: 1W to 22W under realistic conditions. No exceptions. All planning flows from this constraint.

"100W" stove-top generators are not single modules. They are arrays of 5–10 individual modules sharing one hot surface and cooling circuit.

Delta-T Requirements

Power scales roughly with the square of temperature differential. The relationship is non-linear and unforgiving:

The Tropical Problem: Cold-Side Heat Rejection

Even at 5% efficiency, 95% of thermal energy passes through to the cold side. A module generating 20W dumps approximately 380W of waste heat.

Bottom line for St. Lucia: Water cooling is mandatory. Budget for pumps and reservoir maintenance.

Configuration Realities

Heat Sources

Evaluation Matrix for St. Lucia

Recommended Heat Sources

Tier 1 — Diesel Generator Exhaust

If the property maintains diesel backup, exhaust temperatures of 300–500°C provide the highest ROI application. Retrofit cost: $800–1,500 for 300–600W recovery.

Tier 2 — Parabolic Concentrator

1.5m diameter dishes achieve 400–800°C at focus. Requires thermal buffer/heat pipe to throttle to module-safe temperatures (200–250°C).

Power Tier Mapping

TEG is viable as primary source for Tiers 1 and low Tier 2 (under 100W). Above 500W, cost-per-watt becomes prohibitive versus PV.

System Configurations

Config A — Portable Charging Station

Wheeled cart for off-cable mobility.

Modules: 6× TEGpro 22W (series-parallel)
Hot side: Copper heat spreader, 200°C target
Cold side: Water-cooled block, 5L reservoir, 12V pump (5–10W parasitic)
Net output: 60–80W continuous
Battery: 2× 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 (24V 100Ah = 2.4kWh usable)
Cost: $1,560–2,750

Config B — Fixed Mid-Power Node

Semi-permanent installation (pool area, farm, equipment building).

Modules: 20× TEGpro 22W = 440W rated; 280–360W realistic
Heat source: Parabolic trough (2–3m aperture) with synthetic oil at 300–350°C
Storage: 4× 12V 200Ah LiFePO4 (48V 200Ah = 9.6kWh)
Inverter: 2kW pure sine wave
Cost: $7,100–14,300

Config C — Property-Scale Hybrid

TEG as marginal supplement to existing 45kW PV.

TEG contribution: 300–500W average; 1,300–2,230W maximum (intermittent)
Cost (TEG layers only): $39,600–76,400

Sourcing

Verdict

Where TEG Excels

Portable Low-Power Charging (Tier 1–2)

A Config A unit delivers phone/laptop charging anywhere on property without cable runs. No comparable off-the-shelf product exists at this scale.

Waste Heat Recovery

Diesel generator exhaust retrofit costs $800–1,500 and recovers 300–600W of otherwise wasted energy. Positive ROI within 1–2 years.

Night-Time Biomass Operation

Unlike PV, TEG with wood stove input generates at 2am. Valuable for off-grid resilience.

Hard Limits

Cost per watt: $10–40/W installed for TEG versus $1.50–3.50/W for PV
Practical ceiling: 400W continuous is the maximum for solo operator maintenance
Tropical maintenance: Water cooling circuits require service every 3–6 months (algae, corrosion, pump seals)

TEG is not viable as primary resort power. It is viable and valuable in three niches: portable charging, generator exhaust recovery, and kitchen flue scavenging. Deploy as a supplement, not a competitor, to the existing 45kW PV array.

March 2026. Pricing approximate; St. Lucia import duties add 25–40% to North American landed costs.