Synchronous generator

A synchronous generator is a traditional type of power plant generator (used in coal, natural gas, nuclear, and hydro plants) that produces alternating current locked in step with the grid's overall frequency, and which also provides physical rotational inertia that helps stabilize the grid against sudden disturbances. This is in contrast to an inverter-based resource, which uses electronic components rather than a spinning generator to connect to the grid and does not provide that same inertia.