Steam also requires energy to create it. As Wifezilla mentioned, geothermal is a great way to get it. I'm not sure whether solar would be sufficient to do it.
Do you have any ideas, designs, etc for what you'd like to do?
Personally, I always wanted to build a hydraulic-powered electric generator in a waterfall. Of course, that would require me to have property with a creek and a waterfall...
You can build a steam engine out of a $50 weed wacker if you want. I am wanting to build a wood stove that is a multipurpose unit.
The idea is to build a rocket stove and have a boiler attached to it. This will provide hat water for the house during the colder months and build steam for a small steam engine. The small steam engine would be used to generate electricity during the winter months when solar is not as effective.
I live in the PNW and have plans on moving to Alaska eventually. So this unit that I am mentally putting together at this time is designed with that in mind.