A power plant is a facility used to generate electricity by converting energy from other sources. This can be achieved through various methods such as burning fossil fuels like coal, oil or natural gas; using nuclear fission to release energy stored in atomic nuclei; or harnessing the force of water through hydroelectric dams. The term "power plant" is also used more broadly to refer to any machine that converts one form of energy into another, such as a steam engine or wind turbine.