Comparative assessments of configuration type and parameter optimization effects on the performance of a hybrid PV-TEG system

• Comprehensive thermal–electrical model allowing for direct side-by-side comparison. • Quantification of configuration-dependent thermal and electrical interactions. • Configuration-dependent parametric optimization revealing device-level effectiveness. • Design strategies for configuration selection and critical tradeoff identification. Despite considerable development of solar cells, their efficiency remains limited by thermalization and transmission losses, driving interest in hybrid PV-TEG systems. While prior studies have predominantly investigated either stacked or parallel arrangements, they lack a unified framework to quantitatively compare the merits across configurations and guide their optimal performance. This research presents the first comprehensive, side-by-side analysis of the individual components in both configurations through a validated thermal–electrical model that systematically integrates thermal dynamics with electrical behavior at various light concentration levels. Results show that in the stacked configuration, elevated temperatures significantly reduce the efficiency of the PV cell, with a maximum of only 15.8 % of the total power reaching the TEG subsystem. Conversely, spectrum splitting in the parallel configuration mitigates overheating effects on the PV cell while transferring 19.6 % of the total power to the TEG subsystem, achieving up to 33.3 % higher overall efficiency than the stacked configuration and 20.4 % higher than the standalone PV cell at C g , P V = 5 and C g , T E G = 306 . However, optimizing key parameters (e.g., PV temperature coefficient, TEG material properties, and geometric dimensions) demonstrates a more pronounced effect on the stacked configuration, indicating its strong dependence on optimal parameter selection. Our findings establish design principles and highlight critical tradeoffs between configuration type, key parameters, and temperature management, providing actionable insights for optimizing next-generation PV-TEG systems to maximize solar energy utilization and enhance conversion efficiency.