> the only power generation method with direct energy conversion is solar. Wind, hydro, coal, gas and fission all ultimately turn turbines. For wind and hydro,

> the only power generation method with direct energy conversion is solar. Wind, hydro, coal, gas and fission all ultimately turn turbines. For wind and hydro, the fluid motion is directly coupled to the rotor of a generator. Coal, gas, and nukes produce only heat, that must drive a heat engine to drive the generator. The lossy step is the heat engine. The turbine is incidental. That said, the steam turbines used with coal and nukes require frequent expensive maintenance, a thing not true of water or air turbines. This is why coal and nukes are today uncompetitive, and daily fall further behind.