Gigawatts to Milliwatts conversion

How to convert gigawatts to milliwatts?

Sure! Here is a detailed explanation of how to convert gigawatts (GW) to milliwatts (mW) and some real-world examples for gigawatts.

Converting 1 Gigawatt to Milliwatts

1 gigawatt (GW) is equal to $10^9$ watts (W). 1 watt (W) is equal to $10^3$ milliwatts (mW).

To convert gigawatts to milliwatts, you follow these steps:

1. Convert gigawatts to watts: $1 \, \text{GW} = 1 \times 10^9 \, \text{W}$

2. Convert watts to milliwatts: $10^9 \, \text{W} = 10^9 \times 10^3 \, \text{mW} = 10^{12} \, \text{mW}$

So, 1 gigawatt is equal to $10^{12}$ milliwatts.

Real-World Examples of Gigawatts

1. Electric Power Generation:

   • Nuclear Power Plant: A typical nuclear reactor can generate about 1 GW of electric power. For example, the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station in Arizona, USA, has an installed capacity of about 4 GW from its three reactors combined.

2. Solar Power Farms:

   • The Bhadla Solar Park in India is one of the largest solar farms in the world with a capacity of approximately 2.25 GW.

3. Hydroelectric Dams:

   • The Three Gorges Dam in China, the world's largest power station by installed capacity, can generate about 22.5 GW of power.

4. Wind Farms:

   • The Gansu Wind Farm in China is one of the largest onshore wind farms in the world, with a capacity of around 6 GW.

5. Electricity Consumption:

   • The average electricity consumption for the entire country of Sweden in 2020 was approximately 150 terawatt-hours (TWh) per year. This averages out to a constant consumption of around 17 GW.

By understanding these conversions and examples, you can better comprehend the magnitudes involved when discussing power generation and usage in real-world scenarios.