Energy generated from, or stored in, a heat source. Thermal energy is a common intermediate form of energy used in electrical generation. Most large-scale turbine generator facilities, including most coal and nuclear energy plants, don't produce energy directly from the burning of fuel. Instead, the fuel is burned to produce heat that creates steam, and the pressure produced from turning water into steam is used to drive turbines that rotate electrical generators. Steam is thus used as a temporary carrier of thermal energy in the electrical generation process.

Thermal generation refers to any type of energy generation that uses thermal energy as an intermediate form of energy or as the primary energy source. Nuclear, steam turbine and combustion turbine generators are all types of thermal generators

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