lignite
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lignite
A brownish, soft sedimentary rock that is used as a fossil fuel for generating electricity and heat. It has a lower energy content than hard coal.
In der Lausitz wird in großen Tagebauen Braunkohle zur Verstromung abgebaut.
In Lusatia, lignite is mined in large open-pit mines for electricity generation.
The word is a clear compound made up of the adjective 'braun' (brown) and the noun 'die Kohle' (coal). So it literally describes a type of coal that is brown.
Braunkohle ist weicher als Steinkohle.
Lignite is softer than hard coal.
'Braunkohle' (lignite) is often the first part of long, specific nouns. Common examples are 'der Braunkohletagebau' (lignite open-pit mining), 'das Braunkohlekraftwerk' (lignite-fired power plant), and 'der Braunkohleausstieg' (phase-out of lignite).
Das Braunkohlekraftwerk wird nächstes Jahr abgeschaltet.
The lignite-fired power plant will be shut down next year.
In the context of mining and energy production, 'Braunkohle' (lignite) is combined with specific verbs: you can 'abbauen' (mine), 'fördern' (extract), or 'verstromen' (turn into electricity) it.
In dieser Region wird seit über 100 Jahren Braunkohle gefördert.
Lignite has been extracted in this region for over 100 years.
How lignite is handled is an important political and social issue in Germany. The term 'Kohleausstieg' (coal phase-out) mainly refers to the end of electricity generation from lignite.
Die Debatte um den Braunkohleausstieg beschäftigt die Politik seit Jahren.
The debate about the phase-out of lignite has occupied politicians for years.
coal
'die Kohle' and 'die Braunkohle' belong to the same area because both can refer to fossil fuels. 'Kohle' is the general term. It can mean different types of coal. 'Braunkohle' is more precise: it refers to a specific, relatively soft and brownish type of coal with a lower energy content. Learners may confuse the words because lignite is a type of coal. If the exact type is important, you say 'Braunkohle'. If you are only talking generally about the fuel, 'Kohle' is often enough.
Braunkohle wird in einigen Regionen noch zur Stromerzeugung abgebaut.
Lignite is still mined in some regions to generate electricity.
Früher heizten viele Häuser im Winter mit Kohle.
In the past, many houses were heated with coal in winter.