31 Cronin B. Vining 2008 <p>The climate crisis presents unique and largely<br />unprecedented social, economic, political and technical<br />challenges. The technical challenges, though enormous, may<br />prove the most tractable of all. Among the technical<br />challenges is the development of energy technologies with<br />much reduced environmental impact This note provides an<br />overview of thermoelectric technology, a solid state &lsquo;heat<br />engine&rsquo; capable of converting heat to electricity or<br />alternatively converting electricity into cooling. Such an<br />overview is timely because thermoelectric technology has<br />made significant scientific progress in recent years and its<br />potential to reduce the environmental impact of electrical<br />power generation has been discussed. While the science,<br />technology and business of thermoelectrics has never been<br />stronger than today, the opportunity for a material impact on<br />the climate crisis appears limited. Only a single application,<br />recovery of vehicle waste heat, appears plausible in this<br />respect. And even that application faces stiff barriers.</p>