The thing to remember is that there is no "over-unity machine" possible. There are always forces such as friction, electrical resistance, etc, which reduce the efficiency of these types of "savior" inventions.
Just like everyone still trying to find ways to use water as a fuel source through electrolysis. It takes more energy for spallation than you get out of the reaction in this case.
At this point our most efficient means of energy collection/creation is the nuclear reactor. The 2nd most is the fusion reactor. Unfortunately, they post the most immediate risks and some of the most ultimate risks, such as lingering radioactive contamination.
As you guys are pointing out, "fuel is not required to generate electricity", but energy is. You have to produce some kind of steam to spin the turbine to twist the magnetic generator to produce a current, whether that is heat from coal or fission. Whether that is the air pushing a wind turbine, geothermal vents, or water spinning a wheel in a river.
You get out less than what is put in.
If you really want to collect some high efficiency energy, wrap the sun completely in a sphere of inward facing solar panels. But then, we waste a lot of energy having to heat and light up the planet. You never really win here.
*goes and hugs a tree*
