Final answer:
Large thermoelectric power plants use water as a coolant to generate electricity by dissipating the heat produced during the generation process.
Step-by-step explanation:
Large thermoelectric power plants use a lot of water to generate electricity. This water is used as a coolant to dissipate the heat produced during the generation process. In the power plant's scheme, a source of heat generates steam, which flows towards the condenser. Along the way, the steam turns a turbine connected to a generator, exporting electricity. The steam is then cooled and reverts to liquid water by thermal contact with a cool source of water, such as a river, ocean, or evaporative cooling towers.