Convert Megawatt-Hours to Megatons of TNT
Convert Megawatt-Hours (MWh) to Megatons of TNT (Mt(TNT)) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
Mt(TNT) = MWh × 8.604206501e-7
About Megawatt-Hours
A megawatt-hour (MWh) is the energy from 1 MW for one hour - exactly 3.6 GJ. It is the standard unit for wholesale electricity trading. Power purchase agreements (PPAs) specify capacity and price in $/MWh or €/MWh. A 5 MW wind turbine at full capacity generates 5 MWh/h. Primary aluminium smelting consumes 13-15 MWh per tonne. The Moss Landing battery (California) stores 3,287 MWh. The daily output of a 1 GW nuclear plant at 90% capacity factor is ~21,600 MWh. 1 MWh = 3.6 GJ = 3,412,141 BTU = 1,000 kWh.
About Megatons of TNT
A megaton of TNT (Mt(TNT)) = 10⁶ tons of TNT = exactly 4.184 PJ. The Soviet Tsar Bomba (1961) yielded ~50 Mt - the largest human-made explosion ever, with a fireball 8 km in diameter. Castle Bravo (1954) yielded ~15 Mt, 2.5× its 6 Mt design yield. Modern thermonuclear warheads typically range from 0.1-1.2 Mt. The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake released ~500 Mt in seismic energy. The Krakatoa 1883 eruption released ~200 Mt; Tambora 1815 ~33,000 Mt. 1 Mt(TNT) = 4.184 PJ = 1,162,800 MWh.
Quick Reference Table
| Megawatt-Hours (MWh) | Megatons of TNT (Mt(TNT)) |
|---|---|
| 1 MWh | 8.604 × 10-7 Mt(TNT) |
| 2 MWh | 1.721 × 10-6 Mt(TNT) |
| 5 MWh | 4.302 × 10-6 Mt(TNT) |
| 10 MWh | 8.604 × 10-6 Mt(TNT) |
| 25 MWh | 2.151 × 10-5 Mt(TNT) |
| 50 MWh | 4.302 × 10-5 Mt(TNT) |
| 100 MWh | 8.604 × 10-5 Mt(TNT) |