electrical generator
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An electrical generator is a device that converts mechanical energy—like movement or rotation—into electrical energy that we can use. It matters because it's the fundamental technology that allows us to produce electricity from various energy sources, making electric power available for homes, businesses, and industries.
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U.S. NRC image of a modern steam turbine generator (STG)
In electricity generation, a generator, also called an electric generator, electrical generator, and electromagnetic generator is an electromechanical device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy for use in an external circuit. In most generators which are rotating machines, a source of kinetic power rotates the generator's shaft, and the generator produces an electric current at its output terminals which flows through an external circuit, powering electrical loads. Sources of mechanical energy used to drive generators include steam turbines, gas turbines, water turbines, internal combustion engines, wind turbines and even hand cranks. Generators produce nearly all of the electric power for worldwide electric power grids. The first electromagnetic generator, the Faraday disk, was invented in 1831 by British scientist Michael Faraday.