A fossil fuel power plant (FFPP) (also known as steam electric power plant in the US, thermal power plant in Asia, or power station in the UK) is an energy conversion center designed on a large scale for continuous operation. Just as a battery converts relatively small amounts of chemical energy into electricity for temporary or intermittent use, the FFPP converts the energy stored in fossil fuels such as coal, oil, or natural gas successively into thermal energy, mechanical energy, and finally electric energy for continuous use and distribution across a wide geographic area.

Usually, the coal is utilized to convert water into steam in boilers (thermal energy). The steam is then used to drive steam turbines (mechanical energy). The turbine shaft is coupled to a generator shaft, which generates electricity.