Most of the UK’s electricity is made in large power stations fuelled by coal, gas, oil or nuclear fuel. These are all known as thermal power stations. When the fuel is burnt it generates heat which is used to create steam. The steam is used to turn turbines which are connected to electrical generators.


Gas, coal and oil power stations – These are thermal power stations which produce heat energy that turns water into steam. The steam drives turbines which in turn drive generators that produce electrical energy. The steam is obtained from a boiler.

I also agree with María Luisa Duarte, but having worked 7 years as in-house translator in the power generation and distribution industry, it is more customary to call them thermal power plants.

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Note added at 1 hr 46 mins (2004-05-28 21:06:03 GMT) Post-grading
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sorry, \"thermal power plants\" (plural)
Hits in Google:
Results 1 - 10 of about 23,200 for \"thermal power plant\".
Results 1 - 10 of about 718,000 for thermal power plant (without quote)

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Note added at 1 hr 48 mins (2004-05-28 21:07:56 GMT) Post-grading
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\"Thermal power station\" also has many hits (over 14,000)