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Gigawatt to Megawatt Converter

Convert gigawatts to megawatts with our free online power converter.

Quick Answer

1 Gigawatt = 1000 megawatts

Formula: Gigawatt × conversion factor = Megawatt

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.

Last verified: February 2026Reviewed by: Sam Mathew, Software Engineer

Gigawatt to Megawatt Calculator

How to Use the Gigawatt to Megawatt Calculator:

  1. Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Gigawatt).
  2. The converted value in Megawatt will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
  3. Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Power category.
  4. Click the swap button (⇌) to reverse the conversion direction.
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How to Convert Gigawatt to Megawatt: Step-by-Step Guide

Converting Gigawatt to Megawatt involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.

Formula:

MW = GW × 1000

Example Calculation:

1 GW = 1000 MW

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.

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📋 Unit Symbols

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What is a Gigawatt and a Megawatt?

1 GW = 1,000,000,000 W = 1,000 MW = 1,000,000 kW = 1,341,022 hp = 3.412 billion BTU/h

1 MW = 1,000,000 W = 1,000 kW = 1,341 hp = 3.412 million BTU/h = 0.001 GW

Note: The Gigawatt is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Megawatt belongs to the imperial/US customary system.

Common Uses and Applications: gigawatts vs megawatts

Explore the typical applications for both Gigawatt (imperial/US) and Megawatt (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.

Common Uses for 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).

When to Use megawatts

Renewable Energy: Wind turbines (2-15 MW), solar farms (1-100 MW). Power Generation: Small power plants, gas turbines, diesel generators. Industrial: Large factories, manufacturing plants, mining operations. Data Centers: Hyperscale facilities (20-100 MW), server farms.

Additional Unit Information

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%

About Megawatt (MW)

How do I convert MW to kW or W?

Formula:

  • kW = MW × 1,000
  • W = MW × 1,000,000

Examples:

  • 1 MW = 1,000 kW = 1,000,000 W
  • 5 MW = 5,000 kW = 5,000,000 W
  • 2.5 MW = 2,500 kW = 2,500,000 W
  • 0.5 MW = 500 kW = 500,000 W

MW to kW converter → MW to Watts converter →

How many homes can 1 MW power?

Average US home: ~1.2 kW average (30 kWh/day ÷ 24 hrs)

1 MW = 1,000 kW

Calculation: 1,000 kW ÷ 1.2 kW/home ≈ 833 homes (average load)

Regional variations:

  • High AC use (Arizona, Texas): ~600-700 homes
  • Moderate climate: ~700-900 homes
  • Mild climate: ~900-1,200 homes

Peak vs average:

  • Average load: 1 MW = 800-900 homes
  • Peak load (summer afternoon): 1 MW = 300-500 homes

Example: 5 MW wind turbine powers ~4,000 homes on average

What is the difference between MW and MWh?

MW (Megawatt) = Power (rate of energy use/generation right now) MWh (Megawatt-hour) = Energy (total amount over time)

Analogy:

  • MW = speedometer (speed right now)
  • MWh = odometer (total distance traveled)

Example:

  • 5 MW solar farm × 6 hours = 30 MWh energy produced
  • 10 MW data center × 24 hours = 240 MWh daily consumption

Power plant ratings: Always in MW (capacity) Energy production/consumption: Measured in MWh or GWh

How much does a 1 MW power plant produce per year?

Formula: Annual MWh = MW × hours/year × capacity factor

1 MW at 100% capacity: 8,760 MWh/year (365 days × 24 hours)

Realistic production (accounting for capacity factor):

Nuclear: 1 MW × 8,760 hrs × 90% = 7,884 MWh/year Coal: 1 MW × 8,760 hrs × 50% = 4,380 MWh/year Wind: 1 MW × 8,760 hrs × 35% = 3,066 MWh/year Solar: 1 MW × 8,760 hrs × 25% = 2,190 MWh/year

Example: 5 MW wind turbine produces ~15,330 MWh/year (~1,700 homes)

How big is a 1 MW solar farm?

Solar panel efficiency: ~400W per panel (modern, 2024) Panels needed: 1,000,000 W ÷ 400 W = 2,500 panels

Land area:

  • Fixed tilt: 4-5 acres per MW
  • Single-axis tracking: 6-8 acres per MW
  • Dual-axis tracking: 8-10 acres per MW

1 MW solar farm typical specs:

  • Panels: 2,500-3,000 (400W each)
  • Land: 5-7 acres
  • Annual production: 1,500-2,500 MWh (depending on location)
  • Homes powered: ~150-250 homes

Scaling: 100 MW solar farm = 500-700 acres (varies by location, technology)

Conversion Table: Gigawatt to Megawatt

Gigawatt (GW)Megawatt (MW)
0.5500
11,000
1.51,500
22,000
55,000
1010,000
2525,000
5050,000
100100,000
250250,000
500500,000
1,0001,000,000

People Also Ask

How do I convert Gigawatt to Megawatt?

To convert Gigawatt to Megawatt, enter the value in Gigawatt 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.

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What is the conversion factor from Gigawatt to Megawatt?

The conversion factor depends on the specific relationship between Gigawatt and Megawatt. 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 Megawatt back to Gigawatt?

Yes! You can easily convert Megawatt back to Gigawatt by using the swap button (⇌) in the calculator above, or by visiting our Megawatt to Gigawatt converter page. You can also explore other power conversions on our category page.

Learn more →

What are common uses for Gigawatt and Megawatt?

Gigawatt and Megawatt 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.

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Verified Against Authority Standards

All conversion formulas have been verified against international standards and authoritative sources to ensure maximum accuracy and reliability.

NIST Reference on Constants, Units and Uncertainty

National Institute of Standards and Technology — Fundamental physical constants and unit conversions

BIPM SI Units

Bureau International des Poids et Mesures — International System of Units (SI) definitions and standards

ISO 80000

International Organization for Standardization — Quantities and units international standards series

Last verified: February 19, 2026