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Electric Conversions
Electricity Conversion/Equivalency Charts & Definitions
Unit-of-Measure Equivalents
| Unit |
Equivalent |
| Kilowatt (kW) |
1,000 |
(One Thousand) |
Watts |
| Megawatt (MW) |
1,000,000 |
(One Million) |
Watts |
| Gigawatt (GW) |
1,000,000,000 |
(One Billion) |
Watts |
| Terawatt (TW) |
1,000,000,000,000 |
(One Trillion) |
Watts |
| Gigawatt |
1,000,000 |
(One Million) |
Kilowatts |
| Thousand Gigawatts |
1,000,000,000 |
(One Billion) |
Kilowatts |
| Kilowatthours (kWh) |
1,000 |
(One Thousand) |
Watthours |
| Megawatthours (MWh) |
1,000,000 |
(One Million) |
Watthours |
| Gigawatthours (GWh) |
1,000,000,000 |
One Billion) |
Watthours |
| Terawatthours (TWh) |
1,000,000,000,000 |
(One Trillion) |
Watthours |
| Gigawatthours |
1,000,000 |
(One Million) |
Kilowatthours |
| Thousand Gigawatthours |
1,000,000,000 |
(One Billion) |
Kilowatthours |
| U.S. Dollar |
1,000 |
(One Thousand) |
Mills |
| U.S. Cent |
10 |
(Ten) |
Mills |
| Source: Energy Information Administration, Office of Coal, Nuclear, Electric and Alternate Fuels, Electric Power Division. | |
| In order to convert from U.S. units to metric units using the conversion factors shown in the following table, multiply the number of U.S. units (e.g., 2 pounds) times the conversion factor shown (0.45359237) to obtain the equivalent number in metric units (2 pounds times 0.45359237 pounds/kilograms = 0.90718474 kilograms) |
|
Metric Conversion |
| Type of Unit |
U.S. Unit |
Times |
Conversion Factor |
Equals |
Metric Unit |
| Mass |
| |
short tons (2,000 lb) |
x |
0.907 184 7 |
= |
metric tons (t) |
|
| |
pounds (lb) |
x |
0.453 592 37a |
= |
kilograms (kg) |
| Volume |
| |
barrels of oil (bbl) |
x |
0.158 987 3 |
= |
cubic meters (m3) |
|
|
|
cubic feet (ft3) |
x |
0.028 316 85 |
= |
cubic meters (m3) |
|
|
|
U.S. gallons (gal) |
x |
3.785 412 |
= |
liters (L) |
| Energy |
| |
British thermal units (Btu) |
x |
1,055.055 852 62ab |
= |
joules (J) |
Useful Electricity Terms |
-
A Btu or British Thermal Unit is a standard unit for measuring the quantity of heat energy equal to the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 pound (16 ounces) of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit.
-
The Capacity Factor of a generating unit is the ratio of "the electrical energy produced by a generating unit for a given period of time" to "the electrical energy that could have been produced at continuous full-power operation during the same period."
-
Efficiency is derived by dividing the heat content of 1 kilowatthour of electricity (3,412 Btu per kilowatthour) by the number of Btu contained in the input used to produce 1 kilowatthour.
-
Energy is the capacity for doing work--as measured by the capability of doing work (potential energy) or the conversion of this capability to motion (kinetic energy). Energy has several forms, some of which can be converted into another form useful for work. Most of the world's convertible energy comes from fossil fuels that are burned to produce heat that is then used as a transfer medium to mechanical or other means in order accomplish tasks. Electrical energy is usually measured in watthours, while heat energy is usually measured in Btu.
-
Heat Rate is a measure of generating station thermal efficiency--generally expressed in Btu per net kilowatthour. It is computed by dividing the total Btu content of fuel burned for electricity generation by the resulting net kilowatthour generation.
-
An ohm is the unit of measurement of electrical resistance. It is the resistance of a circuit in which a potential difference of 1 volt produces a current of 1 ampere. |
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