Convert power units — watts, kilowatts, horsepower, BTU/hr.
| Unit | Name | Value |
|---|---|---|
| W | Watt | 1000000 |
| kW | Kilowatt | 1000 |
| hp | Horsepower (mech) | 1341.0219 |
| BTU/hr | BTU/hr | 3412142.5 |
Formula: Horsepower = Megawatt × 1341
Multiply any megawatt value by 1341 to get horsepower.
Reverse: Megawatt = Horsepower × 0.0007457
Common megawatt values — factor: 1 MW = 1341 hp
| Megawatt (MW) | Horsepower (hp) | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 0.001 MW | 1.341 hp | 1 kW |
| 0.01 MW | 13.41 hp | 10 kW |
| 0.1 MW | 134.1 hp | 100 kW EV charger |
| 1 MW | 1,341 hp | Small wind turbine |
| 2 MW | 2,682 hp | 2 MW turbine |
| 10 MW | 1.341e+04 hp | Small wind farm |
| 100 MW | 134,100 hp | Large wind farm |
| 500 MW | 670,500 hp | Medium power plant |
| 1,000 MW | 1,341,000 hp | Large power plant |
| 2,000 MW | 2,682,000 hp | Hoover Dam |
| 5,000 MW | 6,705,000 hp | Large nuclear plant |
| 1e+04 MW | 13,410,000 hp | 10 GW grid |
| 100,000 MW | 134,100,000 hp | 100 GW grid |
| 1,000,000 MW | 1.341e+09 hp | 1 TW |
| 1.000e+09 MW | 1.341e+12 hp | Global capacity fraction |
MW × 1,341 = hp.
1 MW = 1,341 hp. 0.7457 MW = 1,000 hp.
hp ÷ 1,341 = MW.
Reports generation output and plant capacity in megawatts for grid dispatch.
Models wind farm and solar plant capacity and generation in megawatts.
Plans high-voltage transmission line capacity in megawatts.
Buys and sells power capacity contracts in megawatts on wholesale markets.
Forecasts regional peak demand and installed capacity requirements in megawatts.
Plans large campus power infrastructure rated in tens of megawatts.
The megawatt (MW) equals 1,000 kW or 1,000,000 watts, and is the standard unit for power plant output, industrial facilities, and large electrical infrastructure.
Power plants are rated in megawatts: a typical nuclear reactor produces 1,000–1,600 MW; a large wind turbine generates 2–14 MW; utility-scale solar farms range from 10 to 2,000 MW. The capacity of a city's electrical grid is measured in megawatts.
Interesting fact: The Hoover Dam generates about 2,080 MW at full capacity. A single lightning bolt releases about 1,000 MW — but only for about 1 microsecond, so the total energy is relatively small.
Horsepower (hp) was defined by James Watt in the 1780s to quantify steam engine output in terms familiar to mine operators who used horses to pump water. One mechanical horsepower equals 550 foot-pounds per second = 745.7 watts.
Horsepower remains the dominant power rating for vehicle engines in the United States, Canada, and the UK. Car engines range from 70 hp (economy) to 700+ hp (sports cars). Electrical motors, pumps, and industrial equipment are often rated in both kW and hp.
Interesting fact: There are multiple horsepower definitions: mechanical hp (745.7 W), metric hp (735.5 W), electrical hp (746 W), and boiler hp (9,810 W). Most automotive usage refers to mechanical hp. A racehorse at full gallop produces about 14–15 hp peak, not 1 hp.
Converting megawatt to horsepower is common across electrical engineering, automotive, and HVAC industries. Different sectors use different power units — watts and kilowatts in electrical systems, horsepower in automotive and industrial machinery, and BTU/hr in heating and cooling — making accurate conversion essential for international equipment specifications and cross-disciplinary engineering.
Quick reference: 5 MW = 6705 hp and 10 MW = 1.341e+04 hp. Reverse: 1 hp = 0.0007457 MW. Exact factor: 1 MW = 1341 hp.
All conversions use IEEE 754 double-precision arithmetic, accurate to at least 8 significant figures.