Device for producing electric energy

The invention concerns a device for producing electric energy with a bank that consists of a plurality of thermocouples, each of which has a first conductor element ( 19 ), a second conductor element ( 1; 2 ) connected with the first conductor element, and a third conductor element ( 20 ) connected with the second conductor element ( 1; 2 ) on a side opposite the first conductor element, wherein the conductive material of the first and third conductor elements ( 19, 20 ) is different from the conductive material of the second conductor elements ( 1; 2 ); the first conductor elements ( 19 ) are connected with a heat source ( 9 ), and the third conductor elements ( 20 ) are connected with a heat sink ( 11 ); and the first and third conductor elements ( 19, 20 ) of successive thermocouples alternately face each other in the bank. In accordance with the invention, the conductor elements that face each other in the bank are electrically connected with each other, and the second conductor elements alternately consist of a p-type ( 1 ) and an n-type ( 2 ) semiconductor.