Convert Megawatt-Hours to Terajoules
Convert Megawatt-Hours (MWh) to Terajoules (TJ) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
TJ = MWh × 0.0036
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 Terajoules
A terajoule (TJ) is 10¹² J - the scale of nuclear yields in the kiloton range and large industrial accidents. One kiloton of TNT = 4.184 TJ; the Hiroshima bomb (15 kt) released ~62.8 TJ. The Halifax Explosion (1917) released ~3 TJ. A 500 MW coal plant consumes ~51.4 TJ/h of thermal input. Daily primary energy of Denmark is ~250-300 TJ; the UK ~3,800 TJ/day. A 1 GW nuclear reactor at 90% capacity factor generates ~77.7 TJ/day. 1 TJ = 10¹² J = 277,778 kWh = 277.78 MWh = 23.88 ktoe.
Quick Reference Table
| Megawatt-Hours (MWh) | Terajoules (TJ) |
|---|---|
| 1 MWh | 0.0036 TJ |
| 2 MWh | 0.0072 TJ |
| 5 MWh | 0.018 TJ |
| 10 MWh | 0.036 TJ |
| 25 MWh | 0.09 TJ |
| 50 MWh | 0.18 TJ |
| 100 MWh | 0.36 TJ |