Convert Gigawatts to Megawatts
Gigawatt (GW) to Megawatt (MW) unit conversion — enter any value below to get an instant result, or use the table for common values.
Results from this calculator are estimates provided for general informational purposes only, based on formulas, rates, and standards commonly accepted as of 2026. Figures may differ slightly from other calculators or professional sources due to rounding methods, differing assumptions, or regional regulations, and rules may change over time. Always consult a qualified professional — such as a financial advisor, healthcare provider, or other relevant specialist — before making decisions based on these results.
Result
1 GW = 1000 MW
1 Gigawatt = 1000 Megawatts
1 Megawatt = 0.001 Gigawatts
1 GW in every supported unit
Conversion chart: Gigawatt to Megawatts
Conversion table
| Gigawatt (GW) | Megawatt (MW) |
|---|---|
| 0.01 GW | 10 MW |
| 0.1 GW | 100 MW |
| 1 GW | 1000 MW |
| 2 GW | 2000 MW |
| 3 GW | 3000 MW |
| 5 GW | 5000 MW |
| 10 GW | 10000 MW |
| 20 GW | 20000 MW |
| 50 GW | 50000 MW |
| 100 GW | 100000 MW |
| 1000 GW | 1000000 MW |
Gigawatt (GW)
Definition: One billion watts (10⁹ W), used to describe power on the scale of an entire electrical grid or a very large generating station.
History: A natural extension of the SI prefix system as national and regional power grids grew large enough that even the megawatt became an inconveniently small unit for describing total generating capacity.
Current use: Used by grid operators and energy planners to report national electricity demand, total installed renewable capacity, and the output of the largest power stations such as major hydroelectric dams.
Megawatt (MW)
Definition: One million watts (10⁶ W), a unit large enough to describe the output of industrial and utility-scale power equipment.
History: Adopted as electricity generation scaled up through the 20th century, when individual power stations began producing far more energy than the kilowatt could conveniently express.
Current use: The standard unit for rating power plant output, wind turbine capacity, and large industrial electrical loads in utility and engineering contexts worldwide.
Supported Units
| Unit | Symbol | In Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Milliwatt | mW | 0.001 W |
| Watt | W | 1 W |
| Kilowatt | kW | 1000 W |
| Megawatt | MW | 1000000 W |
| Gigawatt | GW | 1E+09 W |
| Horsepower (mechanical) | hp | 745.69987 W |
| Horsepower (metric) | PS | 735.49875 W |
| BTU per Hour | BTU/h | 0.29307107 W |
| Foot-pound per Second | ft·lb/s | 1.3558179 W |
| Calorie per Second | cal/s | 4.1868 W |
About These Parameters
- Value
- The number you want to convert, expressed in the "From" unit. Accepts decimals.
- From Unit
- The unit your input value is currently measured in.
- To Unit
- The unit you want the result converted into. Use the swap button to flip From and To instantly.
How Power Conversion Works
The Formula
Every unit here is defined by a fixed multiplier relative to the watt. To convert a value from one unit to another:
result = value × (factor of "From" unit ÷ factor of "To" unit)
For Gigawatt → Megawatt: multiply by 1000. For example, 1 GW × 1000 = 1000 MW.
Mechanical vs. Metric Horsepower
The two horsepower units on this page look almost identical but are not quite the same: mechanical horsepower (hp) is defined as exactly 550 foot-pounds of work per second (about 745.7 W) and is the standard for cars and engines in the US and UK, while metric horsepower (PS, from the German Pferdestärke) is defined as the power to lift 75 kilograms one meter per second (about 735.5 W) and is used across continental Europe, Japan, and much of Asia. The difference is small — about 1.4% — but it means a car advertised as "300 PS" in Germany produces slightly less power than a car advertised as "300 hp" in the US, even though the numbers look the same.
How James Watt Defined Horsepower
In the 1780s, engineer James Watt needed a way to convince mill owners that his improved steam engines could outperform the horses they already used to turn grinding wheels. He observed a strong horse turning a mill and calculated it could sustain roughly 33,000 foot-pounds of work per minute — equivalent to 550 foot-pounds per second — and fixed that figure as "one horsepower." The unit stuck long after steam engines and horses both gave way to electric and internal combustion power, and it remains the standard way vehicle and engine power is marketed today.
Example
1 GW equals 1000 MW. For scale, that's about 1000000× the power draw of a typical microwave oven (1,000 W, or 1E-06 GW).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Megawatts are in 1 Gigawatt?
1 Gigawatt (GW) equals exactly 1000 Megawatts (MW).
Why are there two kinds of horsepower?
Mechanical horsepower (550 ft·lb/s, about 745.7 W) was defined in Britain by James Watt in the 1780s, while metric horsepower (PS, about 735.5 W) was defined later in continental Europe using kilograms and meters instead of pounds and feet. Both describe roughly "the power of a horse," but because they were defined with different unit systems the two figures differ by about 1.4%.
How many watts is 1 horsepower?
1 mechanical horsepower equals exactly 745.6998715823 watts (about 745.7 W), while 1 metric horsepower (PS) equals exactly 735.49875 watts (about 735.5 W). Both are close to but not the same as 1 kilowatt (1,000 W).
How accurate are these conversions?
Every conversion factor used here is the exact, internationally recognized value (e.g. 1 hp = exactly 745.6998715823 W, 1 PS = exactly 735.49875 W) — results are limited only by floating-point display precision, not by rounded conversion constants.