Are there alternatives to electric energy? Do you mean to eliminate all electrical energy? It is most definitely NO.
The transmission and distribution of energy over long distances is possible with electricity. It can be used to transport and distribute energy (transmission) to all households and businesses. It is a skill that electrical engineers are proficient at handling. They use high-voltage wires with three phase transmission and transformation down to household voltage for standard voltage receptacles.
The electrical transmission and distribution grid are a technological marvel that requires a huge investment. It is interconnected in that each pole connects to all wires. Take all wires, poles, transformers, and so on. The electrical grid, as a single device, is the most complex human-made structure.
See image: Power Grid Diagram
I read that Dallas Stadium uses three times as much electricity on Game Day as Liberia. Kristof. The Dallas Cowboys stadium draws three times as much power as Liberia can produce. Which Uses More Electricity? or Liberia.
However, electricity is not an energy source. Engineers are constantly learning new ways to generate electricity, such as:algae ( Combined Metabolism and Energy: Development of a Novel Photobioelectric device Driven by Photosynthesis & Respiration).
wind power ( Increasing Wind Turbine Blade Efficiency), geothermal energy ( Silver State Dishing out Golden Geothermal Power).
solar ( MIT Breakthrough : Thermochemical Solar Power).
ExtremeTech),
Laser beam ( Rayton Solar Produces The World’s Most Affordable Energy Via a Laser Beam), etc.
These are the most exciting areas of research.
Natural gas, oil, and coal can all produce energy. They produce more than 65% of the electricity currently. The fuel is burned and then the off-gas temperature is used to create steam, which in turn moves a steam turbine to generate electricity. Peter Kelly-Detwiller, Forbes’ reporter, reported that the new generation GE steam turbines (new-generation H-turbines), have a 60% conversion efficiency rating. This means that they extract 60% of the fuel’s inherent energy when it’s converted into electricity. In 1990, I was told that steam turbine efficiency was about 40%. Clean Energy Innovation: A Volatile and Unstoppable Force This is another area that needs research.
However, electrical energy transmission and distribution aren’t very popular areas of research. It is unlikely that electrical power transmission and distribution will be obsolete anytime soon.