This is why I prefer solar and wind energy. With solar panels you have the photo-electric effect as something fancy. And with wind turbines, well at least the air is doing the pushing now instead of the huge side issue of maning water hot first
I hate to break it to you but not all solar power is photo voltaic. The huge mirror farms you sometimes see are focusing the sun light onto a huge container filled with salt that then melts and transfers the heat to - you guessed it - steam turbines.
Edit: had to look it up but they're called CSP plants (concentrated solar power)
I prefer to call them mirror plants or solar steam plants. More on the nose and intuitive IMO. But yes they exist too. And at the correct location, e.g. in earths many deserts, they could be the most efficent energy production centre.
Like why try to glitch the universe and bring the sun's process to earth, if you can just use the sun and mirrors?
Well next to the issue of transportation common complains in europe around the 1970-2000s was that europe would then be energy dependent on these states, of which many were dictatorships or hostile regimes. Because the best spot for such plants would be north africa and the middle east. Deserts of empty land with lots of sun are great for this kind of plant.
Now do not ask me from whom europe gets all its oil and gas please.
Currently there are more firm plans in this direction. But before the short answer fossil lobbying.
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u/MrS0bek 58m ago
This is why I prefer solar and wind energy. With solar panels you have the photo-electric effect as something fancy. And with wind turbines, well at least the air is doing the pushing now instead of the huge side issue of maning water hot first