Megawatts to Gigawatts
Type a value in either box to convert between megawatts and gigawatts. The factor is 0.001.
| Megawatts | Gigawatts |
|---|---|
| 1 MW | 0.001 GW |
| 2 MW | 0.002 GW |
| 3 MW | 0.003 GW |
| 5 MW | 0.005 GW |
| 10 MW | 0.01 GW |
| 25 MW | 0.025 GW |
| 50 MW | 0.05 GW |
| 100 MW | 0.1 GW |
How to use
- Enter a value in the Megawatts field.
- The Gigawatts figure appears immediately — no button to press.
- Typing in the Gigawatts field converts back to Megawatts the same way.
- Use the reference table for the values that come up most often.
Megawatts to Gigawatts formula
Converting megawatts to gigawatts is a single multiplication by 0.001.
GW = MW × 0.001
Put another way, one megawatt is exactly 1/1,000 of a gigawatt.
Why this factor: the megawatt and the gigawatt are both defined against the watt, so dividing one definition by the other gives 0.001 directly. Both definitions are set out in full below.
To go the other way, divide by 0.001 — or use the Gigawatts to Megawatts converter, which is the same calculation reversed.
Worked example
Start with 500 MW. Multiply by 0.001 to get 0.5 GW.
500 MW × 0.001 = 0.5 GW
The converter above does this for any value you type, in either direction.
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.
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.
Megawatts vs Gigawatts
The megawatt and the gigawatt 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 gigawatts are in a megawatt?
One megawatt equals 0.001 gigawatts.
What is the formula to convert megawatts to gigawatts?
Multiply the number of megawatts by 0.001. To reverse it, divide by 0.001 instead.
How do I convert gigawatts back to megawatts?
Divide by 0.001, which is the same as multiplying by 1000.
How many gigawatts are in 10 megawatts?
10 MW works out to 0.01 GW.
How is the megawatt defined?
Exactly 1×10⁶ watts.