How does an op-amp create power?
Yes, the output power is almost always greater than the input power in op amps. Ideally, the input power is zero since the input resistances are infinite.

Here's a pinout for an 8-pin 741 op amp:



See the pins labeled +V and -V? Those are for power supply voltages. That's where the output power comes from. Conservation of energy is not violated.

Here's a non-inverting amplifier circuit that illustrates this. I included a bias current between +V and -V of 2.8 mA, which I took from a datasheet. As you can see, all power is accounted for. Surprisingly, only about 1/6 of the total battery power is delivered to the load! This is due to the large supply voltages and the low output voltage. You'll see this same low efficiency for the same reason in linear voltage regulators such as the 7805 and the 317.







simulate this circuit &ndash; Schematic created using CircuitLab

Warning: CircuitLab does not simulate op amp supply voltage pins correctly. If you try to simulate this circuit, you will get no current on +V and -V.