nuclear power plant
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nuclear power plant
A technical facility in which energy is produced through controlled nuclear fission or nuclear fusion, usually to generate electricity.
Nach der Katastrophe von Tschernobyl wuchs der Widerstand gegen den Bau neuer Kernkraftwerke.
After the Chernobyl disaster, opposition to the construction of new nuclear power plants grew.
The word is a typical German compound and consists of three parts: 'der Kern' (here: atomic nucleus), 'die Kraft' (energy/power), and 'das Werk' (plant/factory). So it is literally a plant that produces energy from atomic nuclei.
Die Sicherheit von Kernkraftwerken ist ein wichtiges politisches Thema.
The safety of nuclear power plants is an important political issue.
In everyday language and in the media, the abbreviations 'KKW' (for 'Kernkraftwerk') or 'AKW' (for 'Atomkraftwerk') are often used. Both mean the same thing.
Das AKW in unserer Region soll nächstes Jahr vom Netz gehen.
The nuclear power plant in our region is supposed to be taken off the grid next year.
Certain verbs are often used in connection with nuclear power plants: they can be 'bauen' (built), 'betreiben' (operated), 'abschalten' (shut down), or 'stilllegen' (decommissioned).
Die Regierung hat beschlossen, alle alten Kernkraftwerke stillzulegen.
The government has decided to decommission all old nuclear power plants.
power plant
'das Kraftwerk' and 'das Kernkraftwerk' both have to do with generating electricity. 'Kraftwerk' is a general word for a large facility that produces electrical energy. 'Kernkraftwerk' is a specific type of power plant. It uses energy from nuclear reactions, usually to generate electricity. The words can be confused because a 'Kernkraftwerk' is also a 'Kraftwerk'. So the difference is general versus specific. If you only want to say that electricity is generated there, 'Kraftwerk' is enough. If the energy comes from atomic or nuclear power, you say 'Kernkraftwerk'.
Am Montag besucht die Gruppe ein Museum neben dem alten Kernkraftwerk.
On Monday, the group is visiting a museum next to the old nuclear power plant.
Wegen der hohen Nachfrage läuft das Kraftwerk heute mit voller Leistung.
Because of the high demand, the power plant is running at full capacity today.