The major part of the electrical energy in the world is produced by...

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The question asks about the major part of electrical energy production in the world. 
First, note that in many regions electricity is produced using steam turbines, which convert thermal energy into mechanical work, and then into electrical energy via generators. This setup is used across several fuel sources, including coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear power plants, all of which rely on steam to drive the turbines. 
Next, consider the different pathways by which electricity can be generated: direct electricity generation without steam (rare in large-scale power systems), hydroelectric plants (which use water turbines rather than steam), and solar/wind power (which convert sun and wind energy directly to electricity without steam cycles). While hydro, solar, and wind contribute significantly in some regions, they do not form the majority globally because their capacity additions have historically been smaller and variable, and they depend on geographic and climatic conditions. 
Therefore, the predominant global method has been via steam power cycles, where heat from burning fossil fuels or from nuclear fission produces steam that drives turbines connected to electric generators. This explains why steam power plants have historically accounted for the large share of electricity production. 
It is also worth recognizing that the term “steam power plants” can encompass fossil-fuel-fired plants as well as nuclear plants, since both types use steam turbines to generate electricity, reinforcing why this category dominates in many energy statistics. 
If you were comparing among options such as hydroelectric, wind, solar, or nuclear without steam, you’d run into the issue that hydro and renewables contribute differently by region and time, and direct conversion methods (like photovoltaics or wind turbines) do not rely on steam cycles, thereby explaining their relatively smaller global share in total electricity production historically. 
In summary, the steam-cycle approach has been the backbone of electricity generation worldwide due to the established infrastructure, fuel availability, and the mature technology surrounding steam turbines and thermal power plants.

BH20A0720 Engineering Thermodynamics - Blended teaching 2.9.2024-15.12.2024 Quiz 12

The major part of the electrical energy in the world is produced by...

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