Gigawatt is 1000000000 watt units.
Gigawatts to Petawatts Converter — GW to PW
Convert Gigawatt (GW) to Petawatt (PW) using the exact conversion factor (1 gigawatt = 0.000001 petawatt). See the formula, worked examples, and conversion table.
Gigawatts to Petawatts converter
Converter
Engineering Converter
Convert common stress, force, torque, power, and energy units used in engineering.
Context values
Some unit families need one extra value for a physically accurate result.
Petawatt is 1000000000000000 watt units.
Result = input x 1e+9 / 1e+15.
Power units are compatible.
Reserved above the conversion cards and below the converter.
About Converting Gigawatts to Petawatts
Gigawatt and Petawatt both measure a quantity used in structural or mechanical engineering — commonly stress, pressure, force, torque, power, or energy — where converting between the unit conventions used in different regions, industries, or equipment specifications is a routine part of design work. Specifically: Gigawatt is 1000000000 watt units, and petawatt is 1000000000000000 watt units.
Formula
petawatts = gigawatts × 0.000001
This factor comes from each unit's defined relationship to the category's base unit: 1 gigawatt equals 1000000000 base units, and 1 petawatt equals 1e+15 base units, so dividing one by the other gives the direct gigawatt-to-petawatt factor of 0.000001.
Simple example
1 GW × 0.000001 = 0.000001 PW
1 gigawatt = 0.000001 petawatts.
Real-world example
100 GW × 0.000001 = 0.0001 PW
100 gigawatts = 0.0001 petawatts.
Conversion table
| Gigawatt (GW) | Petawatt (PW) |
|---|---|
| 1 GW | 0.000001 PW |
| 10 GW | 0.00001 PW |
| 50 GW | 0.00005 PW |
| 100 GW | 0.0001 PW |
| 500 GW | 0.0005 PW |
| 1,000 GW | 0.001 PW |
Reverse conversion: Petawatt to Gigawatt
0.000001 PW × 1000000 = 1 GW
0.000001 petawatts = 1 gigawatt.
gigawatts = petawatts × 1000000
For a page dedicated to this direction, see Petawatt to Gigawatt.
Understanding the Gigawatt (GW)
Gigawatt is 1000000000 watt units.
Understanding the Petawatt (PW)
Petawatt is 1000000000000000 watt units.
Reserved between the cards and the FAQ so the page stays balanced.
Frequently asked questions
How many petawatts are in 1 gigawatt?
1 gigawatt equals 0.000001 petawatts, using the exact defined conversion factor rather than an estimate.
How do I convert gigawatt to petawatt?
Multiply the gigawatt value by 0.000001. The converter above does this instantly to whatever precision you set.
How do I convert petawatt back to gigawatt?
Use the reverse factor: 1 petawatt equals 1,000,000 gigawatts. You can also use the swap control in the converter above to flip the direction instantly.
What is a gigawatt?
Gigawatt (GW) is a unit of engineering.
What is a petawatt?
Petawatt (PW) is a unit of engineering.
Is the gigawatt to petawatt conversion exact?
Yes. Both gigawatt and petawatt are defined by fixed standards rather than physical artifacts, so the factor of 0.000001 used above is exact to as many digits as you choose to display.
Why do engineering unit conventions vary so much by region and industry?
Pressure, force, and stress can be expressed in metric (pascal, newton), US customary (psi, pound-force), or older and industry-specific units (atmosphere, torr, kip) depending on the country, industry, and even the equipment manufacturer, which is why engineers routinely need to convert between them when working across specs from different sources.