eli5 Is steam the best way to turn turbines, or is it just the best thing we are most familiar with?

Question

Water seems to just be the right tool for the job in many applications. It always seemed funny to me that we have not found a better option to generate electricity over the years. Most large scale generators, no matter how complex, is just using something to heat up water and spin a really big fan in order to spin a really big magnet.

In: 1

Answer 1

It’s the best way to turn a turbine that can be wherever you want it to be. Hydroelectric dams are more efficient, but suitable locations aren’t always conveniently placed.