Kilowatt-Hours to Megawatt-Hours Converter (kWh to MWh)

Understanding kWh to MWh Conversion

Kilowatt-hours (kWh) and megawatt-hours (MWh) are both units of energy commonly used to measure electricity consumption or generation. Converting between these units is straightforward since they differ only by a factor of 1,000.

Conversion Formula

To convert kilowatt-hours to megawatt-hours, use the following formula:

Example Calculation

Let's convert 2,500 kWh to MWh:

Therefore, 2,500 kilowatt-hours equals 2.5 megawatt-hours.

What is a Kilowatt-Hour (kWh)?

A kilowatt-hour is a unit of energy equal to 1,000 watt-hours. It represents the energy consumed when 1 kilowatt (1,000 watts) of power is used for 1 hour. This is the standard unit used by electricity providers to measure and bill residential and small commercial customers.

For example, a 100-watt light bulb operating for 10 hours consumes 1 kWh of energy (100W × 10h = 1,000Wh = 1kWh).

What is a Megawatt-Hour (MWh)?

A megawatt-hour is a unit of energy equal to 1,000,000 watt-hours or 1,000 kilowatt-hours. It represents the energy consumed when 1 megawatt (1,000,000 watts) of power is used for 1 hour. MWh is typically used for measuring larger amounts of electricity, such as the output of power plants or the consumption of large industrial facilities.

Practical Applications

Understanding the conversion between kWh and MWh is important in various contexts:

• Power generation: Power plants often measure their output in MWh
• Industrial energy consumption: Large facilities may track usage in MWh
• Grid-scale energy storage: Battery systems are often rated in MWh capacity
• Utility-scale renewable energy: Solar and wind farms measure production in MWh
• Energy trading: Wholesale electricity markets typically trade in MWh units

Reverse Conversion (MWh to kWh)

To convert from megawatt-hours to kilowatt-hours, simply multiply by 1,000:

For example, 3.5 MWh equals 3,500 kWh (3.5 × 1,000 = 3,500).