Foot-pound per Minute to Gigawatt Converter
Convert ft⋅lb/min to gigawatts with our free online power converter.
Quick Answer
1 Foot-pound per Minute = 2.259697e-11 gigawatts
Formula: Foot-pound per Minute × conversion factor = Gigawatt
Use the calculator below for instant, accurate conversions.
Our Accuracy Guarantee
All conversion formulas on UnitsConverter.io have been verified against NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) guidelines and international SI standards. Our calculations are accurate to 10 decimal places for standard conversions and use arbitrary precision arithmetic for astronomical units.
Foot-pound per Minute to Gigawatt Calculator
How to Use the Foot-pound per Minute to Gigawatt Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Foot-pound per Minute).
- The converted value in Gigawatt will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
- Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Power category.
- Click the swap button (⇌) to reverse the conversion direction.
How to Convert Foot-pound per Minute to Gigawatt: Step-by-Step Guide
Converting Foot-pound per Minute to Gigawatt involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
GW = ft⋅lb/min × 2.2597e-11Example Calculation:
1 ft⋅lb/min = 2.259697e-11 GW
Disclaimer: For Reference Only
These conversion results are provided for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the precision of these results, especially for conversions involving extremely large or small numbers which may be subject to the inherent limitations of standard computer floating-point arithmetic.
Not for professional use. Results should be verified before use in any critical application. View our Terms of Service for more information.
Need to convert to other power units?
View all Power conversions →What is a Foot-pound per Minute and a Gigawatt?
1 ft⋅lbf/min = 0.0226 W = 0.0000226 kW = 0.00003 hp = 0.0771 BTU/h
Horsepower relationship: 33,000 ft⋅lbf/min = 1 hp (745.7 W) exactly
1 GW = 1,000,000,000 W = 1,000 MW = 1,000,000 kW = 1,341,022 hp = 3.412 billion BTU/h
Note: The Foot-pound per Minute is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Gigawatt belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
Common Uses and Applications: ft⋅lb/min vs gigawatts
Explore the typical applications for both Foot-pound per Minute (imperial/US) and Gigawatt (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for ft⋅lb/min
Historical: Original horsepower definition (Watt, 1780s). Engineering Education: Teaching power unit derivations. Rarely Used: Impractically small for modern applications. Conversion Reference: Link between hp and ft⋅lbf/s.
When to Use gigawatts
Power Plants: Nuclear reactors, coal plants, large hydro dams (1-3 GW each). National Grids: Total generation capacity for countries/regions. Energy Policy: Renewable energy targets, grid expansion planning. Data Centers: Massive hyperscale facilities (approaching 1 GW).
Additional Unit Information
About Foot-pound per Minute (ft⋅lb/min)
How do I convert ft⋅lbf/min to horsepower?
Formula: hp = ft⋅lbf/min ÷ 33,000
Examples:
- 33,000 ft⋅lbf/min = 1 hp (exact)
- 16,500 ft⋅lbf/min = 0.5 hp
- 66,000 ft⋅lbf/min = 2 hp
- 330,000 ft⋅lbf/min = 10 hp
How do I convert ft⋅lbf/min to ft⋅lbf/s?
Formula: ft⋅lbf/s = ft⋅lbf/min ÷ 60
Examples:
- 60 ft⋅lbf/min = 1 ft⋅lbf/s
- 600 ft⋅lbf/min = 10 ft⋅lbf/s
- 33,000 ft⋅lbf/min = 550 ft⋅lbf/s = 1 hp
ft⋅lbf/min to ft⋅lbf/s converter →
Why 33,000 ft⋅lbf/min for 1 hp?
James Watt's experiment (1780s):
Observation: Draft horses in coal mines
- Work rate: Lifting ~22,000 lb⋅ft/min (typical horse)
- Watt's definition: 33,000 ft⋅lbf/min (50% above average)
- Marketing: Sell steam engines rated conservatively vs horses
Calculation:
- 33,000 ft⋅lbf/min ÷ 60 = 550 ft⋅lbf/s
- 550 ft⋅lbf/s × 1.356 = 745.7 W (modern equivalent)
Persists: Still defines horsepower 240+ years later!
How do I calculate power in ft⋅lbf/min?
Formula: Power (ft⋅lbf/min) = Force (lbf) × Distance per minute (ft/min)
Examples:
- Lifting 100 lb at 10 ft/min: 1,000 ft⋅lbf/min = 0.03 hp = 22.6 W
- Winch pulling 500 lb at 20 ft/min: 10,000 ft⋅lbf/min = 0.3 hp = 226 W
- Elevator lifting 2,000 lb at 100 ft/min: 200,000 ft⋅lbf/min = 6.06 hp = 4.52 kW
Modern practice: Convert to hp or kW for practical use.
About Gigawatt (GW)
How do I convert GW to MW or kW?
Formula:
- MW = GW × 1,000
- kW = GW × 1,000,000
- W = GW × 1,000,000,000
Examples:
- 1 GW = 1,000 MW = 1,000,000 kW
- 2.5 GW = 2,500 MW = 2,500,000 kW
- 0.5 GW = 500 MW = 500,000 kW
GW to MW converter → GW to kW converter →
How much power is 1.21 gigawatts?
Reference: "Back to the Future" flux capacitor requirement
1.21 GW = 1,210 MW = 1,210,000 kW
Equivalent to:
- ~1 nuclear reactor at full output
- ~600 large wind turbines (2 MW each)
- ~400,000 US homes' average consumption
- ~1,620,000 horsepower
- Lightning bolt peak: ~1 TW (1,000 GW) for microseconds, but 1.21 GW sustained is massive
Reality: No practical way to extract 1.21 GW from a lightning bolt (too brief, unpredictable)
How many homes can 1 GW power?
Average US home: ~1.2 kW average draw (30 kWh/day ÷ 24 hours)
1 GW = 1,000,000 kW
Calculation: 1,000,000 kW ÷ 1.2 kW/home ≈ 833,000 homes
Regional variations:
- Southwest US (high AC use): ~600,000 homes per GW
- Northeast US: ~700,000-800,000 homes per GW
- Pacific Northwest: ~900,000-1,000,000 homes per GW
Peak vs average: During peak demand (hot summer afternoon), 1 GW powers fewer homes (~300,000-500,000).
What is the world's largest power plant?
Three Gorges Dam (China): 22.5 GW capacity
- Type: Hydroelectric
- Turbines: 34 generators
- Annual generation: ~100 TWh/year
- Location: Yangtze River
Other massive plants:
- Itaipu Dam (Brazil/Paraguay): 14 GW
- Xiluodu Dam (China): 13.86 GW
- Belo Monte Dam (Brazil): 11.23 GW
- Guri Dam (Venezuela): 10.2 GW
Largest nuclear (single site): Kashiwazaki-Kariwa (Japan): 7.97 GW (7 reactors)
How do countries measure their energy capacity?
Installed capacity: Total GW of all power plants (nameplate rating)
Actual generation: Lower than capacity due to:
- Capacity factor: % of time at full output
- Maintenance downtime
- Fuel availability
- Grid demand
Example - US (2024):
- Installed capacity: ~1,200 GW
- Peak demand: ~740 GW (summer)
- Average demand: ~450 GW
Capacity factor by source:
- Nuclear: 90-95% (runs constantly)
- Coal: 40-60%
- Natural gas: 30-60%
- Wind: 25-45%
- Solar: 15-30%
Conversion Table: Foot-pound per Minute to Gigawatt
| Foot-pound per Minute (ft⋅lb/min) | Gigawatt (GW) |
|---|---|
| 0.5 | 0 |
| 1 | 0 |
| 1.5 | 0 |
| 2 | 0 |
| 5 | 0 |
| 10 | 0 |
| 25 | 0 |
| 50 | 0 |
| 100 | 0 |
| 250 | 0 |
| 500 | 0 |
| 1,000 | 0 |
People Also Ask
How do I convert Foot-pound per Minute to Gigawatt?
To convert Foot-pound per Minute to Gigawatt, enter the value in Foot-pound per Minute in the calculator above. The conversion will happen automatically. Use our free online converter for instant and accurate results. You can also visit our power converter page to convert between other units in this category.
Learn more →What is the conversion factor from Foot-pound per Minute to Gigawatt?
The conversion factor depends on the specific relationship between Foot-pound per Minute and Gigawatt. You can find the exact conversion formula and factor on this page. Our calculator handles all calculations automatically. See the conversion table above for common values.
Can I convert Gigawatt back to Foot-pound per Minute?
Yes! You can easily convert Gigawatt back to Foot-pound per Minute by using the swap button (⇌) in the calculator above, or by visiting our Gigawatt to Foot-pound per Minute converter page. You can also explore other power conversions on our category page.
Learn more →What are common uses for Foot-pound per Minute and Gigawatt?
Foot-pound per Minute and Gigawatt are both standard units used in power measurements. They are commonly used in various applications including engineering, construction, cooking, and scientific research. Browse our power converter for more conversion options.
For more power conversion questions, visit our FAQ page or explore our conversion guides.
Helpful Conversion Guides
Learn more about unit conversion with our comprehensive guides:
📚 How to Convert Units
Step-by-step guide to unit conversion with practical examples.
🔢 Conversion Formulas
Essential formulas for power and other conversions.
⚖️ Metric vs Imperial
Understand the differences between measurement systems.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
Learn about frequent errors and how to avoid them.
All Power Conversions
Other Power Units and Conversions
Explore other power units and their conversion options:
- Watt (W) • Foot-pound per Minute to Watt
- Milliwatt (mW) • Foot-pound per Minute to Milliwatt
- Kilowatt (kW) • Foot-pound per Minute to Kilowatt
- Megawatt (MW) • Foot-pound per Minute to Megawatt
- Horsepower (hp) • Foot-pound per Minute to Horsepower
- Metric Horsepower (PS) • Foot-pound per Minute to Metric Horsepower
- Electric Horsepower (hp(E)) • Foot-pound per Minute to Electric Horsepower
- BTU per Hour (BTU/h) • Foot-pound per Minute to BTU per Hour
- BTU per Minute (BTU/min) • Foot-pound per Minute to BTU per Minute
- BTU per Second (BTU/s) • Foot-pound per Minute to BTU per Second
Verified Against Authority Standards
All conversion formulas have been verified against international standards and authoritative sources to ensure maximum accuracy and reliability.
National Institute of Standards and Technology — Fundamental physical constants and unit conversions
Bureau International des Poids et Mesures — International System of Units (SI) definitions and standards
International Organization for Standardization — Quantities and units international standards series
Last verified: February 19, 2026