1 gigawatt
1 GWPower · definition
The quantity is exact as entered. Comparisons use the clearly stated specimen, model or nominal measurement.
Power
Just how powerful is 1 gigawatt?
Large systems
1 GW
ENERGY EACH SECOND
1 gigawatt
The quantity is exact as entered.
1 GWPower
0
Power station
The electrical power produced by a facility that generates electricity for distribution to users.
1 GWPower
0
Power is energy per unit time: one watt is one joule per second.
A little perspective
1 gigawatt is approximately equal to the power of a power station.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
1 gigawatt
Power: 1 GW; definition.
The quantity is exact as entered. Comparisons use the clearly stated specimen, model or nominal measurement.
Power station
Power: 1 GW; example.
A chosen 1 GW electrical output. Capacity and actual generation differ.
Defined examples — our methodology
The marked power is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Measurement details
Why these numbers?
Compare 1 gigawatt with the power of a power station. The notes below explain how each value was chosen.
Power station
1 GWPower · example
A chosen 1 GW electrical output. Capacity and actual generation differ.
- Comparing
- Power ↔ Power
- Relative size
- 1 gigawatt is approximately equal to the power of a power station.
How to read the visual
The diagram uses the recorded measurements. Details outside the marked spans do not set the scale.
- The power of a power station: This is an illustrative comparison value, not a claim that every example is the same.
Power is the rate of energy transfer or use, not the total energy.
1 × 10⁹ Wwatts
1,341,000 hpmechanical horsepower
Change your perspective
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A little smaller. A little larger.