Gigawatt [GW] to Megawatt [MW] Converter
Quick Reference
1 Gigawatt (GW) = 1000 Megawatt (MW)
1 Megawatt (MW) = 0.001 Gigawatt (GW)
How to Convert Gigawatt to Megawatt
1 GW = 1000 MW
1 MW = 0.001 GW
To convert Gigawatt to Megawatt, multiply the value by 1000. To convert Megawatt back to Gigawatt, divide by 1000.
Example: convert 10 GW to MW:
10 GW = 10 x 1000 = 10000 MW
Gigawatt
Definition: A gigawatt (GW) is a unit of power equal to one billion (10⁹) watts. It is a multiple of the base unit, the watt, in the International System of Units (SI).
History/origin: The watt is named in honor of Scottish inventor James Watt. The gigawatt, as a decimal multiple of the watt, was derived as a very large unit for measuring the power output of massive systems.
Current use: Gigawatts are used to measure the total power generation capacity of countries, very large power plants (like nuclear or hydroelectric), and global energy consumption trends. It's used for expressing power on a very large, macroscopic scale.
Megawatt
Definition: A megawatt (MW) is a unit of power equal to one million (10⁶) watts. It is a multiple of the base unit, the watt, in the International System of Units (SI).
History/origin: The watt is named in honor of Scottish inventor James Watt. The megawatt, as a decimal multiple of the watt, was derived as a larger unit for measuring very large amounts of power.
Current use: Megawatts are used to measure the power output of power plants, large industrial facilities, and the power consumption of cities. It is a convenient unit for expressing the scale of power generation and consumption on a large scale.
Gigawatt to Megawatt Conversion Table
| Gigawatt [GW] | Megawatt [MW] |
|---|---|
| 1 GW | 1000 MW |
| 2 GW | 2000 MW |
| 5 GW | 5000 MW |
| 10 GW | 10000 MW |
| 20 GW | 20000 MW |
| 50 GW | 50000 MW |
| 100 GW | 100000 MW |
| 200 GW | 200000 MW |
| 500 GW | 500000 MW |
| 1000 GW | 1000000 MW |