Fossil materials such as coal, oil, and natural gas contain stored energy from ancient sunlight that was captured through photosynthesis millions of years ago. This energy can be harnessed in the form of fuel energy by burning these materials to produce heat, which can then be used to generate electricity. This process involves burning the fossil material, which creates heat, which then boils water to produce steam. The steam is then used to turn a turbine which generates electrical energy. While wind and water can also be used to generate electricity, these are not directly related to fossil materials.