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Worldbuilding

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  • $\begingroup$ A few problems with this answer: 1) Hydrogen is the most common element in the universe, but according to this it is only the 16th most common on the earth. 2) Hydrogen generators would require inputs of both energy and water - water won't be available everywhere without a distribution network, and where is the energy supposed to come from (and why is it not used directly)? 3) Burning hydrogen consumes oxygen, it doesn't produce it (cont.) $\endgroup$ Commented May 1, 2025 at 10:14
  • $\begingroup$ 4) Not all energy on Earth comes from the Sun - geothermal energy comes from radioactive decay in the Earth's core, and nuclear power comes from nuclear fission (potentially in the future, also fusion). 5) If the power generation is going to be distributed, pipelines will still be needed for water, and I'm not sure what railroads are supposed to have to do with energy production (cont.) $\endgroup$ Commented May 1, 2025 at 10:20
  • $\begingroup$ 6) The data doesn't support electricity or oil being monopolies, and they certainly aren't government monopolies - according to this, the top 5 oil companies by revenue in 2023 were from 5 different countries, and the revenue distribution has a long tail involving many other countries, and according to this the figures are similar for electricity - 4 countries in the top 5 companies, and a long tail in the revenue distribution $\endgroup$ Commented May 1, 2025 at 10:25