Thermal power plants continue to play a crucial role in the energy system despite the increasing integration of renewables. Since solar and wind energy are intermittent and only produce power when conditions are favorable, thermal plants act as reliable backup sources to ensure grid stability. Their rotating mass helps maintain frequency stability, and peaker plants can quickly ramp up production to meet demand during peak periods, ensuring a consistent and balanced energy supply.
Thermal power plants generate electricity by converting heat from burning various fuels like natural gas, oil, biomass, waste, coal, or using nuclear reactions. They usually use gas or steam turbines, or reciprocating engines. Gas fired power plants can be either simple or open cycle plants, or combined cycle power plants (CCPP) which integrate both gas and steam turbines, for high efficiency. Combined heat and power plants (CHP) efficiently produce both electricity and thermal energy.
