Convert Megawatts to Electrical Horsepower
Convert Megawatts (MW) to Electrical Horsepower (hp(E)) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
hp(E) = MW × 1340.482574
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.
About Electrical Horsepower
The electrical horsepower (hp(E)) is defined as exactly 746 W - the US NEMA rounding used on electric motor nameplates. It differs from mechanical hp (745.7 W) by only 0.04%. Every NEMA-rated motor in the US carries a horsepower nameplate: a '5 hp motor' delivers 5 × 746 = 3,730 W. NEC motor branch-circuit sizing tables, overload relay selection, and starter ratings are all based on hp(E). Despite global kW adoption, US industrial motor infrastructure remains standardised in electrical horsepower. 1 hp(E) = 746 W.
Quick Reference Table
| Megawatts (MW) | Electrical Horsepower (hp(E)) |
|---|---|
| 1 MW | 1340.48 hp(E) |
| 2 MW | 2680.97 hp(E) |
| 5 MW | 6702.41 hp(E) |
| 10 MW | 13404.8 hp(E) |
| 25 MW | 33512.1 hp(E) |
| 50 MW | 67024.1 hp(E) |
| 100 MW | 134048 hp(E) |