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Megawatt to Calorie per Second Converter

Convert megawatts to cal/s with our free online power converter.

Quick Answer

1 Megawatt = 239005.736138 cal/s

Formula: Megawatt Ɨ conversion factor = Calorie per Second

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

Megawatt to Calorie per Second Calculator

How to Use the Megawatt to Calorie per Second Calculator:

  1. Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Megawatt).
  2. The converted value in Calorie per Second 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 (ā‡Œ) to reverse the conversion direction.
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How to Convert Megawatt to Calorie per Second: Step-by-Step Guide

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

Formula:

cal/s = MW Ɨ 239006

Example Calculation:

1 MW = 239005.736138 cal/s

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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What is a Megawatt and a Calorie per Second?

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

1 cal/s = 4.184 W = 0.004184 kW = 0.0056 hp = 14.29 BTU/h

Note: This uses IT (International Table) calorie = 4.1868 J (standard)

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

Common Uses and Applications: megawatts vs cal/s

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

Common Uses for 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.

When to Use cal/s

Physics Education: Thermodynamics problems, heat transfer calculations. Older Literature: Pre-SI engineering texts, vintage HVAC data. Scientific: Some chemistry and biology applications. Rarely Modern: Watts or kilocalories per hour preferred today.

Additional Unit Information

About Megawatt (MW)

How do I convert MW to kW or W?

Formula:

  • kW = MW Ɨ 1,000
  • W = MW Ɨ 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 ā†’ MW to Watts converter ā†’

How many homes can 1 MW power?

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

1 MW = 1,000 kW

Calculation: 1,000 kW Ć· 1.2 kW/home ā‰ˆ 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 Ɨ 6 hours = 30 MWh energy produced
  • 10 MW data center Ɨ 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 Ɨ hours/year Ɨ capacity factor

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

Realistic production (accounting for capacity factor):

Nuclear: 1 MW Ɨ 8,760 hrs Ɨ 90% = 7,884 MWh/year Coal: 1 MW Ɨ 8,760 hrs Ɨ 50% = 4,380 MWh/year Wind: 1 MW Ɨ 8,760 hrs Ɨ 35% = 3,066 MWh/year Solar: 1 MW Ɨ 8,760 hrs Ɨ 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 Ć· 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)

About Calorie per Second (cal/s)

How do I convert cal/s to watts or kW?

Formula:

  • W = cal/s Ɨ 4.184
  • kW = cal/s Ɨ 0.004184

Examples:

  • 1 cal/s = 4.184 W
  • 10 cal/s = 41.84 W
  • 100 cal/s = 418.4 W = 0.418 kW
  • 1,000 cal/s = 4,184 W = 4.184 kW

cal/s to Watts converter ā†’ cal/s to kW converter ā†’

What is the difference between cal/s and kcal/h?

cal/s = Small calorie per second (rapid power) kcal/h = Kilocalorie (food Calorie) per hour (slower rate)

Conversion: 1 cal/s = 3.6 kcal/h

Usage:

  • cal/s: Physics, instant power measurements
  • kcal/h: Metabolism, HVAC (some regions)

Example: 70W human at rest

  • As watts: 70 W
  • As cal/s: 16.7 cal/s
  • As kcal/h: 60 kcal/h

How do I calculate heat transfer in cal/s?

Formula: Power (cal/s) = Heat (cal) Ć· Time (s)

Example: Melting ice

  • Ice mass: 100 g
  • Heat needed: 8,000 cal (80 cal/g latent heat)
  • Time: 60 seconds
  • Power: 8,000 Ć· 60 = 133 cal/s = 558 W

Heating water:

  • Water: 1 kg (1,000 g)
  • Temperature rise: 10Ā°C
  • Heat needed: 10,000 cal (1 cal/gā‹…Ā°C Ɨ 1,000g Ɨ 10Ā°C)
  • Time: 100 seconds
  • Power: 10,000 Ć· 100 = 100 cal/s = 418 W

Why use watts instead of cal/s?

SI standard: Watts are internationally standardized (1 W = 1 J/s) Simpler: Avoids cal vs kcal vs Cal confusion Electrical: All electrical power in watts Universal: Works across all energy forms (mechanical, electrical, thermal)

Exception: Some nutrition/metabolism research still uses cal/s or kcal/h for historical consistency.

Conversion Table: Megawatt to Calorie per Second

Megawatt (MW)Calorie per Second (cal/s)
0.5119,502.868
1239,005.736
1.5358,508.604
2478,011.472
51,195,028.681
102,390,057.361
255,975,143.403
5011,950,286.807
10023,900,573.614
25059,751,434.034
500119,502,868.069
1,000239,005,736.138

People Also Ask

How do I convert Megawatt to Calorie per Second?

To convert Megawatt to Calorie per Second, enter the value in Megawatt 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 ā†’

What is the conversion factor from Megawatt to Calorie per Second?

The conversion factor depends on the specific relationship between Megawatt and Calorie per Second. 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 Calorie per Second back to Megawatt?

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

Learn more ā†’

What are common uses for Megawatt and Calorie per Second?

Megawatt and Calorie per Second 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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Other Power Units and Conversions

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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 ā€” Fundamental physical constants and unit conversions

BIPM SI Units

Bureau International des Poids et Mesures ā€” International System of Units (SI) definitions and standards

ISO 80000

International Organization for Standardization ā€” Quantities and units international standards series

Last verified: February 19, 2026