Final answer:
The decrease in smaller steam turbines (below 500 MW) is false, as technological advancements have facilitated efficient electricity generation at smaller scales.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement regarding a decrease in smaller steam turbines (below 500 MW) in recent times can be considered false. Advances in technology have allowed for the production of electricity using high-efficiency turbines that operate on a smaller scale. These innovative turbines can generate electricity competitively with a production capacity of less than 100 megawatts. This technological trend supports smaller companies or plants in generating electricity as efficiently as the larger ones that traditionally needed to produce 300 to 600 megawatts to fully exploit economies of scale.
For example, the shift towards using natural gas for burning in high-efficiency turbines has facilitated the production of electricity in smaller quantities. This change reflects a wider industry move towards smaller-scale operations even in other sectors, such as the tire industry, where companies like Pirelli have managed to produce at lower average costs with smaller-output factories.
The functionality of steam turbines wherein steam produced by burning coal, natural gas, or other heat sources impacts the turbine blades, causing them to turn and drive a connected generator remains the central process. The new technologies have not changed the core mechanics of the energy generation but rather have allowed for efficient production at a smaller scale.