Power generation re-work

[Gooblender]

Most power plants operate on a similar principle that a fuel/energy source transfers heat to generate steam, which then generates rotational movement to generate power through induced current. I think the black box generator types are good overall but have their benefits and flaws (steam generator I'm looking at you in particular).

I would suggest a re-work/second layer of power generation to split the functions of a generator and enable more build diversity and flexibility.

The first part would be several designs of boiler to generate piped steam. I think linking energy/fuel requirement to the water input temperature would allow for heat conservation in builds.  This way you could also use waste heat to increase efficiency.

Having been to quite a few power plants I cant say I have ever seen a room of steam being used to power a turbine so I would suggest that this would then go to one of several  sizes of turbine (at different tech levels) with piped steam input and piped hot water output. 

Last but not least a high temperature gas pump would fit well with this model as it would make both steam geysers more useful and allow energy reclamation from aquatuner boilers.   

[calibayzone]

On the fence. Late game power isn't hard to come by, esp if you use open-air electrolyses or don't have a continuous smelting process, and the 50% buff is easy if you have a metal volcano. So most people would go "why bother, I have my nat gas setup with slicksters or hatch coal autosweepers". However, if the only thing that didn't require a fuel -> turbine -> electric system was hamster wheels then that would help.