Design of a 3.75 kW Hybrid Photovoltaic–Thermoelectric Generator Power Generation System for an Unmanned Offshore Gas Platform

A reliable power supply system is a fundamental requirement for unmanned offshore gas platforms because instrumentation, control, communication, and safety systems must operate continuously. Most studies on Photovoltaic–Thermoelectric Generator (PV–TEG) systems have focused on component optimization or laboratory-scale applications, whereas studies addressing system-level design for industrial applications remain limited. This study aims to design a 3.75 kW PV–TEG hybrid power generation system as a 24 VDC power supply for an unmanned offshore gas platform. An engineering design approach was adopted by determining the capacities of the photovoltaic modules, thermoelectric generator (TEG), battery bank, maximum power point tracking (MPPT), and DC–DC converter based on the load demand. The performance of the photovoltaic subsystem was evaluated using PVsyst, while the system power adequacy was evaluated through power balance analysis. The proposed design consists of 32 photovoltaic modules with a total installed capacity of 11.84 kWp, eight MPPT units, and an integrated PV–TEG configuration operating on a 24 VDC distribution system. Simulation results for the photovoltaic subsystem indicate an annual energy production of 16,220 kWh, a Performance Ratio of 77.19%, and a solar fraction of 98.70%. This study presents a system-level PV–TEG hybrid design that can serve as a basis for the development of highly reliable power supply systems for unmanned offshore gas platforms.