The power plant is on an island formed by the course of the river and the channel for the Beznau hydro-electric power plant. Given the sufficient supply of cooling water from the Aare, there is no need for a cooling tower.

KKB consists of two near-identical units, Unit 1 and Unit 2. Their net output is 365 megawatts (MW) each. Both are baseload power plants, i.e. they generate uniform electric power round the clock. They operate all the year round, except two to four weeks in summer, when the plants are shut down for their annual overhaul and replacement of their fuel rods.

Both units at Beznau nuclear power station are equipped with Westinghouse pressurized water reactors. In these reactors, the water flowing through the reactor core is highly pressurized, so that it cannot boil, despite the temperature of 312°C. In the two steam generators, the heat generated in the reactor is released into a second circuit. Here, the water is completely separated from the first circuit and comes to the boil at lower pressure. The resultant steam is channelled on to the turbines which drive the generators.