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Kilowatt (kW)

The kilowatt (symbol: kW) is a unit of power in the International System of Units (SI) equal to 1,000 watts:

Kilowatts are widely used to measure the power consumption or output of household appliances, small engines, and electric tools. For example, a typical microwave oven might use about 1 kW of power.

In electricity billing, power usage is often measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), which reflects energy consumption over time.

The kilowatt is a practical unit for everyday energy use, bridging the scale from watts (for small devices) to megawatts (for larger power generation). It helps people understand and compare the power ratings of common electrical equipment.

Gigawatt (GW)

The gigawatt (symbol: GW) is a unit of power in the International System of Units (SI) equal to $10^{9}$ watts:

Gigawatts are commonly used to measure the output power of large power plants, such as nuclear, hydroelectric, or thermal power stations. For example, a typical nuclear power plant might have a capacity of about 1 GW.

To give context, 1 gigawatt equals one billion watts, enough to supply electricity to hundreds of thousands of homes.

Gigawatts are also used in discussions about renewable energy production and national energy consumption, making it a practical unit for large-scale energy projects and infrastructure.