Solar Thermoelectric Conversion

A solar-electrical generator, comprising:

• a radiation-capture structure having a front surface and a back surface, said front surface being adapted for exposure to solar radiation so as to generate heat;
• and
• at least one thermoelectric converter thermally coupled to said structure at a high-temperature end thereof to receive at least a portion of said generated heat such that a temperature differential is achieved across the at least one thermoelectric converter;
• wherein said radiation-capture structure is characterized by a capture area and the plurality of thermoelectric converters are characterized by a converter area, a ratio of capture area to converter area being greater than about 100.

A method of operating a solar-electrical generator comprising a barrier structure for enclosing an isolated environment, said barrier structure being at least partially transmissive to one or more solar radiation wavelengths to allow transmission of said radiation wavelengths into the isolated environment, at least one thermoelectric converter, and a heat spreader thermally coupled to the at least one thermoelectric converter to remove heat from a portion of the at least one thermoelectric converter, the method comprising:

• removably coupling the barrier structure to the heat spreader to enclose the at least one thermoelectric converter in the isolated environment;
• receiving solar radiation to heat a portion of said thermoelectric converter to generate a temperature differential across said converter;
• and
• uncoupling the barrier structure from the heat spreader.