Volts to Megawatts Converter
A single-phase 11,000 V line that carries 200 amps at a power factor of 1 delivers 2.2 megawatts.
Quick answer: Multiply the volts by the amps and the power factor, then divide by 1,000,000. For example, 11,000 V at 200 A, PF 1, single-phase is 2.2 MW, 11,000 V at 200 A, PF 0.9, three-phase is 3.429 MW and 33,000 V at 150 A, PF 0.95, three-phase is 8.145 MW.
The volts to megawatts formula
Volts alone do not give megawatts. You need the current, and for AC the power factor as well.
Power in watts is volts times amps times power factor. For three-phase, also multiply by 1.732 (Wikipedia: Three-phase electric power).
Take 11,000 V at 200 A, PF 1, single-phase. 11,000 × 200 × 1 ÷ 1,000,000 gives 2.2 MW.
Take 11,000 V at 200 A, PF 0.9, three-phase. 11,000 × 200 × 0.9 × 1.732 ÷ 1,000,000 gives 3.429 MW.
Large power lines and plants
Megawatts are used for big loads such as factories, substations and power lines. One megawatt is one million watts (Wikipedia: Watt).
Voltages in these systems run from thousands to hundreds of thousands of volts.
How to convert volts to megawatts step by step
- Enter the line voltage in volts.
- Enter the current in amps.
- Enter the power factor and choose the phase.
- Read the power in MW. The last column shows kW.
Example 1: 11,000 V at 200 A, PF 1, single-phase
- Start with 11,000 V at 200 A, PF 1, single-phase.
- 11,000 × 200 × 1 ÷ 1,000,000 = 2.2.
- The power in megawatts is 2.2 MW.
11,000 V at 200 A, PF 1, single-phase = 2.2 MW
Example 2: 11,000 V at 200 A, PF 0.9, three-phase
- Start with 11,000 V at 200 A, PF 0.9, three-phase.
- 11,000 × 200 × 0.9 × 1.732 ÷ 1,000,000 = 3.429.
- The power in megawatts is 3.429 MW.
11,000 V at 200 A, PF 0.9, three-phase = 3.429 MW
Example 3: 33,000 V at 150 A, PF 0.95, three-phase
- Start with 33,000 V at 150 A, PF 0.95, three-phase.
- 33,000 × 150 × 0.95 × 1.732 ÷ 1,000,000 = 8.145.
- The power in megawatts is 8.145 MW.
33,000 V at 150 A, PF 0.95, three-phase = 8.145 MW
The kW column helps when the answer in MW is a small decimal.
volts to megawatts conversion table
| Line | Power | In kW |
|---|---|---|
| 400 V at 1,000 A, PF 0.9, three-phase | 0.6235 MW | 623.54 kW |
| 690 V at 500 A, PF 0.9, three-phase | 0.5378 MW | 537.8 kW |
| 3,300 V at 300 A, PF 0.85, three-phase | 1.458 MW | 1,457.52 kW |
| 6,600 V at 200 A, PF 0.9, three-phase | 2.058 MW | 2,057.68 kW |
| 11,000 V at 100 A, PF 1, single-phase | 1.1 MW | 1,100 kW |
| 11,000 V at 200 A, PF 1, single-phase | 2.2 MW | 2,200 kW |
| 11,000 V at 200 A, PF 0.9, three-phase | 3.429 MW | 3,429.46 kW |
| 33,000 V at 150 A, PF 0.95, three-phase | 8.145 MW | 8,144.97 kW |
| 66,000 V at 200 A, PF 0.95, three-phase | 21.72 MW | 21,719.92 kW |
| 132,000 V at 300 A, PF 0.95, three-phase | 65.16 MW | 65,159.75 kW |
| 400,000 V at 1,000 A, PF 0.95, three-phase | 658.18 MW | 658,179.31 kW |
The highlighted row is the default of the calculator. The last column gives kW.
A quick mental shortcut for volts to megawatts
At 11 kV single-phase and a power factor of 1, each 100 A is 1.1 MW.
At three-phase, multiply that by 1.732.
Single-phase versus three-phase
At 11,000 V and 200 A with a power factor of 1, the single-phase power is 2.2 MW.
The three-phase power is 3.8105 MW for the same line current and voltage.
Line voltage for three-phase
Use the line-to-line voltage in the three-phase formula. Line-to-neutral voltage is the line voltage divided by 1.732 (Wikipedia: Three-phase electric power).
Mixing them up changes the answer by 73 percent.
Effect of power factor
A power factor of 0.9 cuts the real power by 10 percent compared with a power factor of 1.
At 11 kV and 200 A three-phase, that moves the answer from 3.8105 MW to 3.4295 MW.
Why high voltage is used
Higher voltage carries the same power with less current. At 110 kV, 3.8 MW needs only about 20.995 A per phase at power factor 0.95.
Less current means smaller losses in the wires.
Megawatts versus megavolt-amperes
MVA is apparent power. MW is real power, and MW equals MVA times the power factor.
Transformers are usually rated in MVA.
Going the other way
To get the current from megawatts, multiply by 1,000,000 and divide by the volts and the power factor, and by 1.732 for three-phase.
For 2.2 MW at 11,000 V single-phase and power factor 1, the current is 200 A.
Check your answer
Multiply your megawatts by 1,000,000. You should get volts times amps times power factor times the phase factor.
For 2.2 MW the result is 2,200,000 W, which matches 11,000 V times 200 A.
Quick conversion answers
| Conversion | Result |
|---|---|
| 1,000 V at 500 A, PF 1, single-phase | 0.5 MW |
| 11,000 V at 50 A, PF 0.9, three-phase | 0.8574 MW |
| 22,000 V at 100 A, PF 0.9, three-phase | 3.429 MW |
| 33,000 V at 100 A, PF 0.95, three-phase | 5.43 MW |
| 110,000 V at 200 A, PF 0.95, three-phase | 36.2 MW |
| 220,000 V at 500 A, PF 0.95, three-phase | 181 MW |
Where this conversion is used
Utility engineers estimate the power on a line from its readings.
Plant staff convert a measured current into megawatts.
Students practise large-scale power calculations.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Dividing by 1,000 instead of 1,000,000. That gives kilowatts, not megawatts.
- Using phase voltage in the three-phase formula. Use the line-to-line voltage.
- Dropping the power factor. Real power is lower than volts times amps.
- Confusing MW and MVA. They differ by the power factor.
Related converters
Frequently asked questions
Can I convert volts to megawatts directly?
No. You also need the current, and the power factor on AC.
How many watts is a megawatt?
One megawatt is one million watts.
How many MW is 11,000 V at 200 A?
It is 2.2 MW single-phase at a power factor of 1.
What changes for three-phase?
Multiply by 1.732 and use the line-to-line voltage.
What is the difference between MW and MVA?
MW is real power. MVA is apparent power.
Why do power lines use high voltage?
It lets them carry the same power with less current and smaller losses.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Three-phase electric power (en.wikipedia.org)
- Wikipedia: Watt (en.wikipedia.org)
- Wikipedia: Power factor (en.wikipedia.org)
