A thermoelectric system includes a plurality of thermocouples that are each formed of two thermocouple limbs that include different thermoelectrically active materials. The thermocouple limbs are connected electrically in series and thermally in parallel. The thermodynamic system also includes a flexible and electrically insulating layer formed of a matrix having n rows of thermocouple limbs. The thermocouple limbs form columns having approximately equal widths. Each pair of adjacent thermocouple limbs has a contact region located on a straight fold line above one another in the column direction. The matrix is wound parallel to the rows on top of one another to form a flat strip. The matrix is then folded along the fold lines in the manner of a concertina with elevations and depressions equidistant to one another.