The megawatt-hour (MWh) is a unit of energy that measures electricity production, consumption, or energy flow over time. It is commonly used to bill large-scale electricity consumers, such as factories or entire cities. To put it into perspective, one megawatt-hour can power about 330 homes for an hour or a single home for 330 hours! In the realm of renewable energy, just one megawatt-hour of wind energy can offset over 1,100 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions—a significant environmental benefit.
Moreover, the world’s energy needs are so vast that in 2022, global electricity consumption soared to over 26,000 terawatt-hours (TWh), where one terawatt-hour equates to one million megawatt-hours. This highlights how crucial units like the MWh are in understanding and managing our energy use and impact.
The gigajoule (GJ) is a unit of energy equivalent to one billion joules. It offers a convenient metric for measuring substantial energy quantities and is frequently used in contexts like natural gas and electrical energy. For instance, one gigajoule can power an average household’s energy needs for about three days, depending on energy consumption habits. Interestingly, it’s also roughly equivalent to the energy contained in 26.8 gallons of gasoline, highlighting its significance in both domestic and industrial contexts.
Beyond its everyday applications, the gigajoule also plays a critical role in scientific fields. In the realm of seismology, for example, a moderate earthquake releases energy comparable to a few gigajoules, illustrating the vast power of natural phenomena. This demonstrates how understanding gigajoules can offer insights into both human technology and the forces of nature.
| Megawatt-hours | Gigajoules |
|---|---|
0
MWh
|
0
GJ
|
0.1
MWh
|
0.36
GJ
|
0.2
MWh
|
0.72
GJ
|
0.3
MWh
|
1.08
GJ
|
0.4
MWh
|
1.44
GJ
|
0.5
MWh
|
1.8
GJ
|
0.6
MWh
|
2.16
GJ
|
0.7
MWh
|
2.52
GJ
|
0.8
MWh
|
2.88
GJ
|
0.9
MWh
|
3.24
GJ
|
1
MWh
|
3.6
GJ
|
1.1
MWh
|
3.96
GJ
|
1.2
MWh
|
4.32
GJ
|
1.3
MWh
|
4.68
GJ
|
1.4
MWh
|
5.04
GJ
|
1.5
MWh
|
5.4
GJ
|
1.6
MWh
|
5.76
GJ
|
1.7
MWh
|
6.12
GJ
|
1.8
MWh
|
6.48
GJ
|
1.9
MWh
|
6.84
GJ
|
2
MWh
|
7.2
GJ
|
2.1
MWh
|
7.56
GJ
|
2.2
MWh
|
7.92
GJ
|
2.3
MWh
|
8.28
GJ
|
2.4
MWh
|
8.64
GJ
|
2.5
MWh
|
9
GJ
|
2.6
MWh
|
9.36
GJ
|
2.7
MWh
|
9.72
GJ
|
2.8
MWh
|
10.08
GJ
|
2.9
MWh
|
10.44
GJ
|
3
MWh
|
10.8
GJ
|
3.1
MWh
|
11.16
GJ
|
3.2
MWh
|
11.52
GJ
|
3.3
MWh
|
11.88
GJ
|
3.4
MWh
|
12.24
GJ
|
3.5
MWh
|
12.6
GJ
|
3.6
MWh
|
12.96
GJ
|
3.7
MWh
|
13.32
GJ
|
3.8
MWh
|
13.68
GJ
|
3.9
MWh
|
14.04
GJ
|
4
MWh
|
14.4
GJ
|
4.1
MWh
|
14.76
GJ
|
4.2
MWh
|
15.12
GJ
|
4.3
MWh
|
15.48
GJ
|
4.4
MWh
|
15.84
GJ
|
4.5
MWh
|
16.2
GJ
|
4.6
MWh
|
16.56
GJ
|
4.7
MWh
|
16.92
GJ
|
4.8
MWh
|
17.28
GJ
|
4.9
MWh
|
17.64
GJ
|
5
MWh
|
18
GJ
|
5.1
MWh
|
18.36
GJ
|
5.2
MWh
|
18.72
GJ
|
5.3
MWh
|
19.08
GJ
|
5.4
MWh
|
19.44
GJ
|
5.5
MWh
|
19.8
GJ
|
5.6
MWh
|
20.16
GJ
|
5.7
MWh
|
20.52
GJ
|
5.8
MWh
|
20.88
GJ
|
5.9
MWh
|
21.24
GJ
|
6
MWh
|
21.6
GJ
|
6.1
MWh
|
21.96
GJ
|
6.2
MWh
|
22.32
GJ
|
6.3
MWh
|
22.68
GJ
|
6.4
MWh
|
23.04
GJ
|
6.5
MWh
|
23.4
GJ
|
6.6
MWh
|
23.76
GJ
|
6.7
MWh
|
24.12
GJ
|
6.8
MWh
|
24.48
GJ
|
6.9
MWh
|
24.84
GJ
|
7
MWh
|
25.2
GJ
|
7.1
MWh
|
25.56
GJ
|
7.2
MWh
|
25.92
GJ
|
7.3
MWh
|
26.28
GJ
|
7.4
MWh
|
26.64
GJ
|
7.5
MWh
|
27
GJ
|
7.6
MWh
|
27.36
GJ
|
7.7
MWh
|
27.72
GJ
|
7.8
MWh
|
28.08
GJ
|
7.9
MWh
|
28.44
GJ
|
8
MWh
|
28.8
GJ
|
8.1
MWh
|
29.16
GJ
|
8.2
MWh
|
29.52
GJ
|
8.3
MWh
|
29.88
GJ
|
8.4
MWh
|
30.24
GJ
|
8.5
MWh
|
30.6
GJ
|
8.6
MWh
|
30.96
GJ
|
8.7
MWh
|
31.32
GJ
|
8.8
MWh
|
31.68
GJ
|
8.9
MWh
|
32.04
GJ
|
9
MWh
|
32.4
GJ
|
9.1
MWh
|
32.76
GJ
|
9.2
MWh
|
33.12
GJ
|
9.3
MWh
|
33.48
GJ
|
9.4
MWh
|
33.84
GJ
|
9.5
MWh
|
34.2
GJ
|
9.6
MWh
|
34.56
GJ
|
9.7
MWh
|
34.92
GJ
|
9.8
MWh
|
35.28
GJ
|
9.9
MWh
|
35.64
GJ
|
10
MWh
|
36
GJ
|
If you like the website, share it on social media.