Suppose that, during the 17th and 18th centuries, a series of breakthroughs are made in the study of electricity, accelerating that field of study such that, the first primitive electric generators - and with them, electric motors - have been built in the early 18th century. These devices supplant the various pressure engines that would eventually culminate in Watt’s steam engine, as it is comparatively easy to turn steam into rotational energy - and thus, electricity - than it is to deal with the pressures involved with steam engines. And rotational energy is easy enough to use to drive pumps.
The important part is that the piston-driven steam engine is largely supplanted by electric engines. Electricity, in general, is superior to steam power for doing work in factories, while steam power is, in general, superior for transportation by rail or ship (and yes, much of this electricity would be generated by steam, regardless).
So what does this industrial revolution look like? The ultimate source of power will still largely be water wheels and steam from burning coal, so the locations of early factories are likely to be the same. But as society gets better at building wires cheaply, it can more quickly move factories to more convenient locations.
The important part is that the piston-driven steam engine is largely supplanted by electric engines. Electricity, in general, is superior to steam power for doing work in factories, while steam power is, in general, superior for transportation by rail or ship (and yes, much of this electricity would be generated by steam, regardless).
So what does this industrial revolution look like? The ultimate source of power will still largely be water wheels and steam from burning coal, so the locations of early factories are likely to be the same. But as society gets better at building wires cheaply, it can more quickly move factories to more convenient locations.