Select a category and enter your values below
To convert from Kilowatt (kW) to Gigawatt (GW), use the following formula:
Let's convert 5 Kilowatt (kW) to Gigawatt (GW).
Using the formula:
Therefore, 5 Kilowatt (kW) is equal to Gigawatt (GW).
Here are some quick reference conversions from Kilowatt (kW) to Gigawatt (GW):
| Kilowatts | Gigawatts |
|---|---|
| 0.000001 kW | GW |
| 0.001 kW | GW |
| 0.1 kW | GW |
| 1 kW | GW |
| 2 kW | GW |
| 3 kW | GW |
| 4 kW | GW |
| 5 kW | GW |
| 6 kW | GW |
| 7 kW | GW |
| 8 kW | GW |
| 9 kW | GW |
| 10 kW | GW |
| 20 kW | GW |
| 30 kW | GW |
| 40 kW | GW |
| 50 kW | GW |
| 100 kW | GW |
| 1000 kW | GW |
| 10000 kW | GW |
A kilowatt (kW) is a standard unit used to measure power.
It's part of the metric system and is equal to exactly one thousand watts (1,000 W).
The prefix "kilo-" simply means one thousand, which makes converting between watts and kilowatts easy:
1 kilowatt (kW) = 1,000 watts (W)
You'll commonly see this unit on labels for engines, electric motors, and many household appliances to indicate their power consumption or output.
It's easy to mix these two up, but the distinction is crucial: they measure power versus energy.
When you get your electricity bill, you are being charged for the total energy you used (the kilowatt-hours).
You are not charged for the peak power you demanded (the kilowatts).
You can find kilowatt (kW) power ratings on many high-power devices in your home.
This rating indicates how much power a device requires to operate. Here are a few typical examples:
To summarize, just remember these key points:
A Gigawatt (GW) is a unit of power equal to one billion watts ( W) or 1,000 megawatts.
It represents a significant amount of energy. To visualize this scale, a single gigawatt is roughly the amount of power generated by one large nuclear power plant.
This level of power is sufficient to supply electricity to hundreds of thousands of homes simultaneously.
The gigawatt is a standard unit for measuring the output of large-scale power generation facilities and national energy grids.
The capacity of major power sources is typically measured in gigawatts, including:
For example, a major offshore wind farm can have a generating capacity of over 1 GW, highlighting its importance in renewable energy planning and infrastructure development.
The term "gigawatt" gained widespread recognition through the classic 1985 film Back to the Future.
The iconic line "1.21 gigawatts!," delivered by Dr. Emmett Brown, refers to the immense power needed for the DeLorean time machine.
While often mispronounced as "jigowatt" in the movie, this famous quote introduced a massive audience to this unit of electrical power, cementing its place in popular culture.