Kilowatt [kW] to Gigawatt [GW] Converter

Definition: A kilowatt (kW) is a unit of power equal to one thousand (10³) watts. It is a multiple of the base unit, the watt, in the International System of Units (SI).

History/origin: The watt is named in honor of Scottish inventor James Watt. The kilowatt, as a decimal multiple of the watt, was derived as a larger unit for measuring significant amounts of power.

Current use: Kilowatts are used to measure the power consumption of appliances, electric motors, and industrial equipment. It is also used to measure the power output of generators and engines.

Definition: A gigawatt (GW) is a unit of power equal to one billion (10⁹) watts. It is a multiple of the base unit, the watt, in the International System of Units (SI).

History/origin: The watt is named in honor of Scottish inventor James Watt. The gigawatt, as a decimal multiple of the watt, was derived as a very large unit for measuring the power output of massive systems.

Current use: Gigawatts are used to measure the total power generation capacity of countries, very large power plants (like nuclear or hydroelectric), and global energy consumption trends. It's used for expressing power on a very large, macroscopic scale.