This chapter summarizes the essentials and trends of steam generation in industrial boilers burning fossil and biofuels. A descriptive overview of the present technology, main combustion systems and heat transfer schemes is first provided, after which the principles of conventional design methods and trends and achievements of computational fluid dynamics‐based techniques for boiler design are discussed. Combustion diagnostics and control systems, and their influence on both boiler efficiency and fouling and slagging on heat‐transfer surfaces, are also analyzed. Finally, the technology outlook for steam boilers is discussed, notably in respect of improving their efficiency and reducing the environmental impact of gas and solid emissions. New boiler concepts are addressed, including topics such as supercritical boilers, low‐NO
x
burners, and oxycombustion systems.