A power generator – often also called a generator or generator set – is a device that provides electrical energy independently of the public power grid. It converts mechanical energy, usually from an internal combustion engine, into electrical energy. The basic principle is simple: An engine drives a generator, which produces electricity through electromagnetic induction. This electricity can then be used to power tools, machines, lighting, or for emergency power supply.
Generators are used wherever mains power is unavailable or a reliable emergency power supply is required – for example, on construction sites, at outdoor events, in agriculture, or to safeguard sensitive facilities such as data centers or hospitals. Private households are also increasingly using compact generators as a backup solution during power outages.
Depending on the application, different types of generators are available. Gasoline or diesel generators are robust and deliver high power for professional use. Inverter generators, on the other hand, produce particularly clean electricity and are suitable for sensitive devices such as electronics or measuring instruments. For continuous emergency power applications, stationary emergency generators are often used, which start automatically as soon as the public grid fails.
A generator is therefore much more than just an emergency device – it is a flexible tool for mobile energy supply that keeps operations running in many areas when nothing else works.