A method for converting heat to electric energy, comprising: thermally cycling an electrically polarizable material between a first temperature T 1 and a second temperature T 2 by alternately adding thermal energy to and withdrawing thermal energy from the electrically polarizable material, wherein the electrically polarizable material is positioned between first and second electrodes each formed of a thermally and electrically conductive material, wherein the electrically polarizable material exhibits spontaneous polarization at T 1 and wherein the spontaneous polarization exhibited by the electrically polarizable material at T 2 is less than the spontaneous polarization exhibited by the electrically polarizable material at T 1; wherein a DC poling voltage is applied to the electrically polarizable material when the electrically polarizable material is in a first portion of the cycle which includes the temperature T 1 to develop an overall net spontaneous polarization so as to generate screening charges on the first and second electrodes, and the DC poling voltage is not otherwise applied to the electrically polarizable material when the electrically polarizable material is in a second portion of the initial cycle which includes the temperature T 2; wherein the first and second electrodes are connected to a load such that electrical energy is output from the first and second electrodes to the load when the electrically polarizable material is in the second portion of the cycle which includes the temperature T 2 at which the DC poling voltage is not applied to the electrically polarizable material; and wherein adding thermally energy to the electrically polarizable material comprises: extracting thermal energy from a combustion reaction and transferring the thermal energy to the electrically polarizable material; or generating thermal energy from solar energy and transferring the thermal energy to the electrically polarizable material; or extracting thermal energy from a nuclear reaction and transferring the thermal energy to the electrically polarizable material; or extracting thermal energy from ocean water and transferring the thermal energy to the electrically polarizable material; or extracting thermal energy from the earth and transferring the thermal energy to the electrically polarizable material; or recovering thermally energy from an industrial process and transferring the thermal energy to the electrically polarizable material. thermally cycling an electrically polarizable material between a first temperature T 1 and a second temperature T 2 by alternately adding thermal energy to and withdrawing thermal energy from the electrically polarizable material, wherein the electrically polarizable material is positioned between first and second electrodes each formed of a thermally and electrically conductive material, wherein the electrically polarizable material exhibits spontaneous polarization at T 1 and wherein the spontaneous polarization exhibited by the electrically polarizable material at T 2 is less than the spontaneous polarization exhibited by the electrically polarizable material at T 1; wherein a DC poling voltage is applied to the electrically polarizable material when the electrically polarizable material is in a first portion of the cycle which includes the temperature T 1 to develop an overall net spontaneous polarization so as to generate screening charges on the first and second electrodes, and the DC poling voltage is not otherwise applied to the electrically polarizable material when the electrically polarizable material is in a second portion of the initial cycle which includes the temperature T 2; wherein the first and second electrodes are connected to a load such that electrical energy is output from the first and second electrodes to the load when the electrically polarizable material is in the second portion of the cycle which includes the temperature T 2 at which the DC poling voltage is not applied to the electrically polarizable material; and wherein adding thermally energy to the electrically polarizable material comprises: extracting thermal energy from a combustion reaction and transferring the thermal energy to the electrically polarizable material; or generating thermal energy from solar energy and transferring the thermal energy to the electrically polarizable material; or extracting thermal energy from a nuclear reaction and transferring the thermal energy to the electrically polarizable material; or extracting thermal energy from ocean water and transferring the thermal energy to the electrically polarizable material; or extracting thermal energy from the earth and transferring the thermal energy to the electrically polarizable material; or recovering thermally energy from an industrial process and transferring the thermal energy to the electrically polarizable material. extracting thermal energy from a combustion reaction and transferring the thermal energy to the electrically polarizable material; or generating thermal energy from solar energy and transferring the thermal energy to the electrically polarizable material; or extracting thermal energy from a nuclear reaction and transferring the thermal energy to the electrically polarizable material; or extracting thermal energy from ocean water and transferring the thermal energy to the electrically polarizable material; or extracting thermal energy from the earth and transferring the thermal energy to the electrically polarizable material; or recovering thermally energy from an industrial process and transferring the thermal energy to the electrically polarizable material.