# Steam turbines and thermal power plants

Boilers raise steam that spins turbines, in coal, oil, nuclear, biomass and waste plants.

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_steam_turbines/

Conversion and use · Conversion devices · No. 96

- Conversion and use
 Conversion and use · Conversion devices · Foundation · Energy

Most of the world's coal and nuclear power still comes from boiling water, and two thirds of the heat goes to waste.

Chart: Illustration: Steam turbines and thermal power plants

##### Where it comes from

Chart: Map of where it comes from

Burning fuel or splitting atoms boils water into steam at very high pressure, which spins a turbine before being condensed and pumped back.

##### Three things to know

1. The average US coal plant turns only about 32% of its coal's energy into electricity (calculated, 2025).
2. Even a perfect engine with 600 C steam and a 30 C condenser could convert at most about 65% of the heat (calculated).
3. For a new coal plant, paying back the capital is about 69% of the cost per MWh, while coal is only about 15% (calculated).

##### The journey

1. 1 **Fuel or heat**Coal, oil, biomass, waste or reactor
2. 2 **Boiler**Water turned to high-pressure steam
3. 3 **Turbine**Expanding steam spins the shaft
4. 4 **Generator**Up to 99% of shaft power made electric
5. 5 **Condenser**Most leftover heat dumped to cooling water
 Covered in [Making electricity: thermal, nuclear, hydro, wind and solarEnergy](https://www.materialinsights.org/learn/energy/making-electricity/)

##### Go deeper pick a tab to open it in full

## Other sections

- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_steam_turbines/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_steam_turbines/correlation/index.md)
- [Science and limits](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_steam_turbines/science/index.md)
- [Value chain](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_steam_turbines/valuechain/index.md)
- [Unit economics](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_steam_turbines/economics/index.md)
- [Engineering methods](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_steam_turbines/methods/index.md)
- [Equipment and suppliers](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_steam_turbines/equipment/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_steam_turbines/links/index.md)