Gas turbines are in fact used for direct electrical generation. In a combined cycle plant, the waste heat from the gas turbine exhaust is used to generate stea

Gas turbines are in fact used for direct electrical generation. In a combined cycle plant, the waste heat from the gas turbine exhaust is used to generate steam for a steam turbine. For example: http://www.cpsenergy.com/services/natural_gas/natgas_generation.asp http://www.cpsenergy.com/services/natural_gas/natgas_generat... Gas turbines are useful for peaking load, because they can be started and stopped quickly, relative to pure steam turbine generation.