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Yes, at the cell level. A 2022 study by researchers at MIT and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) measured a peak thermophotovoltaic (TPV) efficiency of 41.1 ± 1% at an emitter temperature of 2,400 °C. That exceeds most steam-cycle efficiencies in the comparison cited by the researchers—but it does not show that a complete TPV power plant outperforms every steam-turbine station.
What did the TPV study achieve?
The peer-reviewed study “Thermophotovoltaic efficiency of 40%” reported two tandem cells made from III–V semiconductor materials. The team measured electrical output and heat dissipation simultaneously using calorimetry. Its headline result was a peak cell efficiency of 41.1 ± 1% at 2,400 °C—not an efficiency measurement for an entire power plant.
| Cell design | Peak measured efficiency | Emitter temperature at peak | Power density at peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4/1.2 eV tandem | 41.1 ± 1% | 2,400 °C | 2.39 W/cm² |
| 1.2/1.0 eV tandem | 39.3 ± 1% | 2,127 °C | 1.8 W/cm² |
The same paper reports average efficiencies across the respective target temperature ranges of 36.2% for the 1.4/1.2 eV design and 38.2% for the 1.2/1.0 eV design. Those averages are different measures from the peak test points in the table.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsHow can a photovoltaic cell generate electricity from heat?
A TPV cell converts radiant heat—mainly infrared light from a hot emitter—into electricity through the photovoltaic effect. Unlike a conventional solar cell, it is paired with a heat source rather than relying on sunlight.
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The demonstrated cells used two semiconductor junctions with different bandgaps, allowing them to convert different portions of the emitter’s spectrum. A highly reflective back-surface reflector returns photons with too little energy for the cell to use toward the emitter instead of letting the cell absorb them as waste heat. The study tested the devices with emitter temperatures from 1,900 to 2,400 °C.
In what sense is that more efficient than a steam turbine?
The researchers say the roughly 40% result exceeds most steam cycles and is in the range of simple-cycle gas turbines. NREL’s 2022 explanation emphasizes that the TPV cell is designed for heat sources above 2,000 °C—hotter than traditional steam turbines can use. MIT researcher Asegun Henry likewise described the cell as maintaining around 40% efficiency over an emitter range of 1,900 to 2,400 °C in MIT News.
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This is a comparison of conversion efficiencies, not a matched test of complete facilities. The paper does not compare a full TPV plant against a particular coal, nuclear, or utility steam plant using equal fuel inputs, auxiliary loads, costs, or electricity delivered to the grid. The result therefore supports a narrower claim: a TPV cell reached efficiency above most steam cycles under its very high-temperature test conditions.
What could TPV be used for?
Thermal energy storage
One proposed use is a thermal battery: renewable electricity heats a storage medium to a very high temperature, and TPV cells convert some of that stored heat back into electricity when needed. The study identifies this as an application path and says further integrated-system demonstration is warranted.
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Combustion-driven electricity generation is another proposed path. Antora Energy announced in January 2023 that it had built a dedicated TPV-cell manufacturing line in Sunnyvale with initial annual capacity of 2 MW and said it had demonstrated efficiency above 40% (company announcement). That announcement is separate from the peer-reviewed test results and does not provide the same specified test points. Antora’s technology page describes carbon-block thermal storage up to 2,400 °C, industrial heat delivery, and TPV conversion as part of future integrated products; it does not establish that a complete consumer or grid-scale system is currently available.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What remains unproven by the cell result?
A high-efficiency cell is an important component, but it is not the same thing as a complete power system. The cited study reports cell-level measurements and does not establish full-system or grid-delivery efficiency. A system assessment would need to account for the heat source and storage, emitter and cell integration, operating conditions, and losses outside the cell, then compare those results with a defined turbine cycle on consistent boundaries.
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For that reason, a meaningful comparison should specify the cell architecture and bandgaps, emitter temperature, power density, efficiency measurement boundary and method, and whether the number describes a cell or an entire system. A turbine comparison also needs to identify the cycle and account consistently for inputs and auxiliary losses.
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