Dive summary:

• Scientists at Northwestern University have published the results of a study claiming that thermoelectric material is the best way to convert heat waste into electricity, saying before this material up to 66% of energy input is lost as waste heat.
• Thermoelectric material is environmentally stable and is expected to convert 15% to 20% of waste heat to electricity.
• The study particularly notes the importance of the new material to the automobile industry, heavy manufacturing industries and anywhere large combustion engines are used.

From the article:

Northwestern University scientists have developed a thermoelectric material that is the best in the world at converting waste heat to electricity. This is very good news once you realize nearly two-thirds of energy input is lost as waste heat.

The material could signify a paradigm shift. The inefficiency of current thermoelectric materials has limited their commercial use. Now, with a very environmentally stable material that is expected to convert 15 to 20 percent of waste heat to useful electricity, thermoelectrics could see more widespread adoption by industry. ...