Fossil fuel power station

A fossil fuel power station burns a fossil fuel, such as coal or natural gas, to produce electricity. Fossil fuel power stations have turbines to convert the heat energy of combustion into mechanical energy, which then operates an electrical generator. All plants use the energy extracted from expanding gas, either steam or combustion gases.

Fossil fuel power stations provide most of the electrical energy used in the world in 2018. They are major emitters of carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas which is a major contributor to global warming.