NOVELTY - The structural element (1) comprises a first side (10) that faces a hot element of the engine, a second side (12) that faces away from the hot element of the engine, and a thermoelectric generator (20), which is used to generate electric energy from a temperature difference resulting between the first side and the second side of the structural element during operation of the engine. The structural element has a planar extension. The thermoelectric generator has first (22) and second sections (24), which have first ends and second ends and contains different materials.    USE - Structural element e.g. a heat shield for thermally shielding combustion engines or engine components, which are useful in motor vehicles.    ADVANTAGE - The structural element ensures engine efficiency with less fuel consumption and/or improved emission control, reduces engine damage due to mechanical or thermal influence, and reliably prevents the penetration of moisture into the thermoelectric generator.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The structural element (1) comprises a first side (10) that faces a hot element of the engine, a second side (12) that faces away from the hot element of the engine, and a thermoelectric generator (20), which is used to generate electric energy from a temperature difference resulting between the first side and the second side of the structural element during operation of the engine. The structural element has a planar extension. The thermoelectric generator has first (22) and second sections (24), which have first ends and second ends and contains different materials or different material combinations and/or are differently doped. The first ends of the both sections are electrically connected with one another and are thermal-conductively connected with one of the both sides of the structural element. The second ends of the both sections are thermal-conductively connected with other of the both sides of the structural element. The first and second sections are spaced apart from each other, where an area between the sections is partially filled by a heat insulation material. The structural element is multilayerly formed with a first layer forming the first side and a second layer forming the second side, where the thermoelectric generator is arranged between the both layers and thermal-conductively connected with the both layers. The both layers of the structural element overlap the thermoelectric generator and are spaced from each other in an area adjacent to the thermoelectric generator by the heat insulation material. Electric connection lines of the thermoelectric generator are sectionwisely guided between the both layers of the structural element. One of the both layers of the structural element has connection electrodes at its side turned to the thermoelectric generator for electrically contacting the thermoelectric generator and/or electrically conductive webs. The first and second layers of the structural element have a coating and/or surface topography demanding the heat absorption and/or heat transmission in an areawise manner. The structural element has a connecting section, at which the electrical energy produced by the thermoelectric generator is tapped, and a compensation section, by which a temperature-related change of the extension of the structural element is compensatable, so that a fixing section for fixing the structural element and/or the connecting section does not experience impermissible mechanical stress. The thermoelectric generator is partially produced on the structural element in a thick- or thin-layer technique in a flat manner, is partially formed by polymer-electronic, thermoelectric section, and is operatable by connecting to an electrical energy source and a heat pump.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The diagram shows a sectional view of a structural element.    Structural element (1)    First side (10)    Second side (12)    Thermoelectric generator (20)    First section (22)    Second section. (24)