When we talk about electricity, we measure power in watts, kilowatts, megawatts, and even gigawatts. But what do those terms mean, and how do they relate to each other?
This article breaks down the relationship between megawatts and kilowatts, and explains exactly how many kilowatts are in a megawatt.
What is a kilowatt?
A kilowatt (kW) is a unit of power equivalent to 1,000 watts. We often use kilowatts to talk about how much electricity a household uses. You’ll see the wattage listed on many appliances, but when discussing larger amounts of energy, people often use the term kilowatt instead.
What is a megawatt?
A megawatt (MW) is a unit of power equal to 1,000 kilowatts. We typically use megawatts when talking about large-scale power generation and consumption, like with power plants or factories.
To give you a sense of scale, one megawatt can supply enough electricity for hundreds of homes!
How to convert megawatts to kilowatts
The conversion factor is pretty straightforward: 1 megawatt (MW) equals 1,000 kilowatts (kW). So, to convert from megawatts to kilowatts, you just have to multiply by 1,000.
Here’s the formula:
Kilowatts = Megawatts × 1,000
For example, if you want to convert 5 megawatts to kilowatts, you’d multiply 5 MW by 1,000, which gives you 5,000 kW.
Here’s another example: 2.5 MW is the same as 2,500 kW.
Knowing how to convert MW to kW is useful for wrapping your head around the amount of energy produced by power plants or used by big facilities. It also helps when you’re sizing up the power output of large solar farms.
Kilowatts vs. Kilowatt-hours
It’s easy to mix up kilowatts and kilowatt-hours, so let’s clarify.
A kilowatt (kW) measures power, or how fast you’re using energy. A kilowatt-hour (kWh) measures the amount of energy you use over a period of time. For example, if you run a 1 kW appliance for an hour, you’ve consumed 1 kWh of energy.
Your electricity bill is calculated based on how many kilowatt-hours you consume each month.
Summary
The main thing to remember is that 1 megawatt (MW) is equal to 1,000 kilowatts (kW). Knowing this conversion factor is key to understanding and managing energy, whether you’re trying to reduce your energy bill or evaluating the productivity of a power plant.
The MW to kW conversion is essential for understanding everything from how much power your home uses to how much power a city needs.