A gigawatt (GW) is a unit of power equal to one billion watts. To put it into perspective, a single gigawatt can power approximately 750,000 homes simultaneously in developed countries. This immense power is often used to measure the capacity of power plants, with modern nuclear reactors typically generating between 1 to 1.3 gigawatts each. The term gained mainstream attention in pop culture when Doc Brown, in the movie “Back to the Future,” famously exclaimed the need for 1.21 “gigawatts” to power his time machine. Although mistakenly pronounced, it sparked curiosity about the sheer scale of energy required for large-scale projects and futuristic concepts. Today, understanding gigawatts is crucial as we transition to more sustainable energy sources and technologies.
The milliwatt, a unit of power, is often seen in the realm of electronics, particularly in low-consumption devices. One milliwatt is equal to one-thousandth of a watt, making it a crucial measurement in the assessment of small but vital electricity flows. For example, many hearing aids and wristwatches consume power in the milliwatt range, showcasing the intricacy and efficiency of modern technology.
In the world of wireless communication, milliwatts are used to gauge signal strength, as even fractions of a watt can significantly impact data transmission quality. Interestingly, the tiny LEDs in your remote control likely operate at just a few milliwatts, yet they possess the ability to send clear, precise signals to your TV or stereo from across the room.
| Gigawatts | Milliwatts |
|---|---|
0
GW
|
0
mW
|
0.1
GW
|
1e+11
mW
|
0.2
GW
|
2e+11
mW
|
0.3
GW
|
3e+11
mW
|
0.4
GW
|
4e+11
mW
|
0.5
GW
|
5e+11
mW
|
0.6
GW
|
6e+11
mW
|
0.7
GW
|
7e+11
mW
|
0.8
GW
|
8e+11
mW
|
0.9
GW
|
9e+11
mW
|
1
GW
|
1e+12
mW
|
1.1
GW
|
1.1e+12
mW
|
1.2
GW
|
1.2e+12
mW
|
1.3
GW
|
1.3e+12
mW
|
1.4
GW
|
1.4e+12
mW
|
1.5
GW
|
1.5e+12
mW
|
1.6
GW
|
1.6e+12
mW
|
1.7
GW
|
1.7e+12
mW
|
1.8
GW
|
1.8e+12
mW
|
1.9
GW
|
1.9e+12
mW
|
2
GW
|
2e+12
mW
|
2.1
GW
|
2.1e+12
mW
|
2.2
GW
|
2.2e+12
mW
|
2.3
GW
|
2.3e+12
mW
|
2.4
GW
|
2.4e+12
mW
|
2.5
GW
|
2.5e+12
mW
|
2.6
GW
|
2.6e+12
mW
|
2.7
GW
|
2.7e+12
mW
|
2.8
GW
|
2.8e+12
mW
|
2.9
GW
|
2.9e+12
mW
|
3
GW
|
3e+12
mW
|
3.1
GW
|
3.1e+12
mW
|
3.2
GW
|
3.2e+12
mW
|
3.3
GW
|
3.3e+12
mW
|
3.4
GW
|
3.4e+12
mW
|
3.5
GW
|
3.5e+12
mW
|
3.6
GW
|
3.6e+12
mW
|
3.7
GW
|
3.7e+12
mW
|
3.8
GW
|
3.8e+12
mW
|
3.9
GW
|
3.9e+12
mW
|
4
GW
|
4e+12
mW
|
4.1
GW
|
4.1e+12
mW
|
4.2
GW
|
4.2e+12
mW
|
4.3
GW
|
4.3e+12
mW
|
4.4
GW
|
4.4e+12
mW
|
4.5
GW
|
4.5e+12
mW
|
4.6
GW
|
4.6e+12
mW
|
4.7
GW
|
4.7e+12
mW
|
4.8
GW
|
4.8e+12
mW
|
4.9
GW
|
4.9e+12
mW
|
5
GW
|
5e+12
mW
|
5.1
GW
|
5.1e+12
mW
|
5.2
GW
|
5.2e+12
mW
|
5.3
GW
|
5.3e+12
mW
|
5.4
GW
|
5.4e+12
mW
|
5.5
GW
|
5.5e+12
mW
|
5.6
GW
|
5.6e+12
mW
|
5.7
GW
|
5.7e+12
mW
|
5.8
GW
|
5.8e+12
mW
|
5.9
GW
|
5.9e+12
mW
|
6
GW
|
6e+12
mW
|
6.1
GW
|
6.1e+12
mW
|
6.2
GW
|
6.2e+12
mW
|
6.3
GW
|
6.3e+12
mW
|
6.4
GW
|
6.4e+12
mW
|
6.5
GW
|
6.5e+12
mW
|
6.6
GW
|
6.6e+12
mW
|
6.7
GW
|
6.7e+12
mW
|
6.8
GW
|
6.8e+12
mW
|
6.9
GW
|
6.9e+12
mW
|
7
GW
|
7e+12
mW
|
7.1
GW
|
7.1e+12
mW
|
7.2
GW
|
7.2e+12
mW
|
7.3
GW
|
7.3e+12
mW
|
7.4
GW
|
7.4e+12
mW
|
7.5
GW
|
7.5e+12
mW
|
7.6
GW
|
7.6e+12
mW
|
7.7
GW
|
7.7e+12
mW
|
7.8
GW
|
7.8e+12
mW
|
7.9
GW
|
7.9e+12
mW
|
8
GW
|
8e+12
mW
|
8.1
GW
|
8.1e+12
mW
|
8.2
GW
|
8.2e+12
mW
|
8.3
GW
|
8.3e+12
mW
|
8.4
GW
|
8.4e+12
mW
|
8.5
GW
|
8.5e+12
mW
|
8.6
GW
|
8.6e+12
mW
|
8.7
GW
|
8.7e+12
mW
|
8.8
GW
|
8.8e+12
mW
|
8.9
GW
|
8.9e+12
mW
|
9
GW
|
9e+12
mW
|
9.1
GW
|
9.1e+12
mW
|
9.2
GW
|
9.2e+12
mW
|
9.3
GW
|
9.3e+12
mW
|
9.4
GW
|
9.4e+12
mW
|
9.5
GW
|
9.5e+12
mW
|
9.6
GW
|
9.6e+12
mW
|
9.7
GW
|
9.7e+12
mW
|
9.8
GW
|
9.8e+12
mW
|
9.9
GW
|
9.9e+12
mW
|
10
GW
|
1e+13
mW
|
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