Nuclear power appears to be a powerful way to make steam that spins a turbine. Same with geothermal, wind, & hydro. Maybe not solar? Isn’t energy lost in the multiple energy conversions (heat, water state, kinetic)? Is it theoretically possible to have a power source that more directly moves electrons through a circuit? If solar is the only one that can, it’s limited in efficiency and where it can be used. What about power generation undersea or on Ganymede or something?
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Aside from the obvious like photovoltaic solar there are traditional fossil fuel plants that function via direct energy conversion from magnetic plasma streams.
The basic principle is that moving plasma can be used to create a magnetic field in the same way that other moving conductors can.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetohydrodynamic_generator
However they have limited mass commercial appeal aside from being used where plasma is already generated and needs to be cooled, because none of the current designs are more efficient than steam turbine designs, and the maintenance requirements are high which removes the primary benefit of having no moving parts.
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