Convert Watts to Megawatts
Convert Watts (W) to Megawatts (MW) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
MW = W × 1.000000000e-6
About Watts
The watt (W) is the SI unit of power - 1 J/s - named after James Watt (1736-1819). Familiar power levels: smartphone charging 5-65 W; laptop 15-100 W; microwave 700-1,200 W; electric kettle 2,000-3,000 W; human resting metabolism ~80 W; peak sprint ~2,000 W. The now-obsolete 100 W incandescent bulb is replaced by a 10-15 W LED producing the same light. In AC circuits, reactive power uses the var and apparent power the VA, both derived from watts. 1 W = 1 J/s = 1 kg·m²/s³.
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
| Watts (W) | Megawatts (MW) |
|---|---|
| 1 W | 1 × 10-6 MW |
| 2 W | 2 × 10-6 MW |
| 5 W | 5 × 10-6 MW |
| 10 W | 1 × 10-5 MW |
| 25 W | 2.5 × 10-5 MW |
| 50 W | 5 × 10-5 MW |
| 100 W | 1 × 10-4 MW |