a thermal power station is a power station in which heat energy is converted to electric power. in most places the turbine is steam-driven. water is heated, turns into steam and spins a steam turbine which drives an electrical generator. after it passes through the turbine the steam is condensed in a condenser and recycled to where it was heated. this is known as a rankine cycle. the greatest variation in the design of thermal power stations is due to the different heat sources; fossil fuel power generation, though nuclear heat energy, solar heat energy, biofuels, and waste incineration are also used. some prefer to use the term "energy center" because such facilities convert forms of heat energy into electrical energy. certain thermal power stations are also designed to produce heat for industrial purposes, for district heating, or desalination of water, in addition to generating electrical power.