This project offers to explore a physical effect, the so called anomalous Nernst effect (ANE), forthermoelectric power generation. The research plan involves prototyping a simple, laminar thin filmstructure to exploit thermal electricity from waste heat. These cheap, easily available thermoelectric devicescould play an important part in meeting Europe 2020 targets to increase energy efficiency by 20% as set outby the European Commission.The proposal aims to describe the quantum-mechanical effects responsible for the ANE through aselected range of simple metals and alloys. The plan involves the preparation and characterization of 6-8simple as well as 2-3 highly unusual magnetic structures in thin film form. The primary training objective ofthe candidate is to absorb new skills involved in the thin film fabrication. This non-equilibrium preparationtechnique also gives an occasion to better understand the origin of hard magnetic properties of these rareearth free, transition metal based compositions. These efforts also meet EU directives to develop sustainablemagnetic materials without, or with reduced use of, critical raw materials.In order to maximize the thermoelectric response of the simple laminar thin film architecture, amulti-scale simulation approach will be adopted. The macroscopic approach to prototype design will engagemicromagnetic simulations based on finite element method, whilst state-of-the-art density functional theory(DFT) based on spin dynamics will be applied to describe the fundamental physical interactions responsiblefor ANE at the atomic level. To learn this powerful theoretical tool (spin dynamics) is also a trainingobjective that builds on the candidate's existing computational skill using DFT.The proposal addresses the important issues of energy efficiency and sustainable magnetic materialsusing a multidisciplinary approach assembled to meet requirements at all levels.