The development of permanent-magnet generators is reviewed and a novel multistacked form described. This machine is ideally suited to the production of a high airgap field from ceramic magnets, but polymer-bonded rare-earth magnets may also be used to advantage. A damping device can be incorporated to minimise load-angle oscillation. The use of capacitance to improve regulation and increase output is discussed. It is shown that the performance of the generator can be predicted with reasonably good accuracy by a simple computer program.