Convert Boiler Horsepower to Megawatts
Convert Boiler Horsepower (BHP) to Megawatts (MW) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
MW = BHP × 0.009810554074
About Boiler Horsepower
One boiler horsepower (BHP) ≈ 9,810 W = 33,475 BTU/h - the power to evaporate 34.5 lb of water per hour at 212°F, standardised by ASME for rating steam boilers. A small office building needs 10-50 BHP; a hospital or large plant 200-2,000 BHP. Critically, 1 BHP is ~13.1× larger than 1 mechanical horsepower (746 W) - a dangerous confusion when specifying heating equipment. 1 BHP ≈ 9,810.6 W.
About Megawatts
A megawatt (MW) is 10⁶ W - the standard unit for utility power plant output. A coal unit produces 300-900 MW; a large nuclear reactor 1,000-1,600 MW. Offshore wind turbines reach 15 MW each (Vestas V236-15.0). The Three Gorges Dam totals 22,500 MW. Aluminium smelters consume 500-600 MW; electric arc furnaces 100-300 MW. Solar farms are rated in MWp; pharmaceutical clean-room HVAC systems in MW. 1 MW = 10⁶ W = 1,341 mechanical hp.
Quick Reference Table
| Boiler Horsepower (BHP) | Megawatts (MW) |
|---|---|
| 1 BHP | 0.00981055 MW |
| 2 BHP | 0.0196211 MW |
| 5 BHP | 0.0490528 MW |
| 10 BHP | 0.0981055 MW |
| 25 BHP | 0.245264 MW |
| 50 BHP | 0.490528 MW |
| 100 BHP | 0.981055 MW |