There are a bunch of different ways to generate electricity that we already know about.
The photovoltaic effect which is used in solar panels generates electricity from light. The thermoelectric effect which uses the temperature difference between the two faces of a a thermocouple to generate electricity. Electrochemistry can generate electricity from various chemicals such as in batteries.
The issue is that these methods don’t scale as well as just steam generators. Steam generators can reach up to 50% efficiency. So yea, unless we find a method that scales better and has higher efficiency we will keep using steam generators for a while.
There are a bunch of different ways to generate electricity that we already know about.
The photovoltaic effect which is used in solar panels generates electricity from light. The thermoelectric effect which uses the temperature difference between the two faces of a a thermocouple to generate electricity. Electrochemistry can generate electricity from various chemicals such as in batteries.
The issue is that these methods don’t scale as well as just steam generators. Steam generators can reach up to 50% efficiency. So yea, unless we find a method that scales better and has higher efficiency we will keep using steam generators for a while.
Can’t wait for cold fusion to replace regular nuclear reactors. Then we will be finally able to boil water like no one ever did before!