Megawatt: meaning, definitions and examples
⚡
megawatt
[ ˈmɛɡəˌwɑt ]
energy measurement
A megawatt (MW) is a unit of power equal to one million watts. It is commonly used to measure the output of power plants and the power consumption of large electrical systems. Megawatts can be used to quantify the capacity of energy generation sources such as solar, wind, and fossil fuel facilities. This measurement plays a crucial role in electricity generation, particularly in assessing the performance and efficiency of electrical grids and power plants.
Synonyms
MW, megawatt-hour (when considering energy), power unit.
Examples of usage
- The wind farm generates 150 megawatts of power.
- Our new solar project has a capacity of 5 megawatts.
- This power plant can produce up to 500 megawatts during peak hours.
Translations
Translations of the word "megawatt" in other languages:
🇵🇹 megawatt
🇮🇳 मेगावॉट
🇩🇪 Megawatt
🇮🇩 megawatt
🇺🇦 мегават
🇵🇱 megawat
🇯🇵 メガワット
🇫🇷 mégawatt
🇪🇸 megavatio
🇹🇷 megavat
🇰🇷 메가와트
🇸🇦 ميغاوات
🇨🇿 megawatt
🇸🇰 megawatt
🇨🇳 兆瓦
🇸🇮 megavat
🇮🇸 megawatt
🇰🇿 мега Watt
🇬🇪 მეგავატი
🇦🇿 meqavat
🇲🇽 megavatio
Etymology
The term 'megawatt' originated in the late 19th century, combining the metric prefix 'mega-', which denotes a factor of one million, with 'watt', a unit of power named after Scottish inventor James Watt. The watt was established to measure the rate of energy conversion or power generation. The introduction of the megawatt allowed for more convenient expression of large-scale power outputs, particularly in the growing fields of electrical engineering and energy generation. As industrialization progressed, the demand for efficient measurements in electricity generation and distribution led to the widespread adoption of the megawatt in engineering, regulatory, and commercial contexts.