> I was unaware of any other non-mechanical* method for generating electricity. What about electrochemistry (i.e. batteries and fuel cells)? Trying to think o

> I was unaware of any other non-mechanical* method for generating electricity. What about electrochemistry (i.e. batteries and fuel cells)? Trying to think of others, I guess I would include triboelectricity and the piezo effect among the mechanical methods. A thermocouple isn't mechanical though unless you are going to argue that it relies on kinetic energy of atoms. Alpha and beta decay are non-mechanical; also, there are some schemes for direct conversion of energy radiated from a (hypothetical) fusion reactor in the form of charged particles into electric current without a thermal/mechanical intermediate step. Does the EMP from a nuclear weapon count as 'generated electricity'? (Would that be considered mechanical?) (several edits: I thought of more.)