Gigawatts to Megawatts
Type a value in either box to convert between gigawatts and megawatts. The factor is 1000.
| Gigawatts | Megawatts |
|---|---|
| 1 GW | 1000 MW |
| 2 GW | 2000 MW |
| 3 GW | 3000 MW |
| 5 GW | 5000 MW |
| 10 GW | 10000 MW |
| 25 GW | 25000 MW |
| 50 GW | 50000 MW |
| 100 GW | 100000 MW |
How to use
- Enter a value in the Gigawatts field.
- The Megawatts figure appears immediately — no button to press.
- Typing in the Megawatts field converts back to Gigawatts the same way.
- Use the reference table for the values that come up most often.
Gigawatts to Megawatts formula
The factor from gigawatts to megawatts is 1000.
MW = GW × 1000
Put another way, one gigawatt is exactly 1,000 megawatts.
Why this factor: the gigawatt and the megawatt are both defined against the watt, so dividing one definition by the other gives 1000 directly. Both definitions are set out in full below.
To go the other way, divide by 1000 — or use the Megawatts to Gigawatts converter, which is the same calculation reversed.
Worked example
Given 75 GW, multiplying by 1000 yields 75000 MW.
75 GW × 1000 = 75000 MW
The converter above does this for any value you type, in either direction.
What is a gigawatt?
A gigawatt is one billion watts — the scale of national grids and large nuclear plants.
Definition: Exactly 1×10⁹ watts.
Where it is used: National electricity demand, total installed renewable capacity, and large nuclear reactor output.
What is a megawatt?
A megawatt is one million watts, the unit of power-station and grid-scale capacity.
Definition: Exactly 1×10⁶ watts.
Where it is used: Power plant and wind farm output, data-centre capacity, and grid demand.
Gigawatts vs Megawatts
The gigawatt and the megawatt belong to the same family of units, so converting between them is usually a matter of shifting a decimal point or applying a small whole-number factor.
Frequently asked questions
How many megawatts are in a gigawatt?
One gigawatt equals 1000 megawatts.
What is the formula to convert gigawatts to megawatts?
Multiply the number of gigawatts by 1000. To reverse it, divide by 1000 instead.
How do I convert megawatts back to gigawatts?
Divide by 1000, which is the same as multiplying by 0.001.
How many megawatts are in 10 gigawatts?
10 GW works out to 10000 MW.
How is the gigawatt defined?
Exactly 1×10⁹ watts.