Megawatts to BTU/hour Converter
Enter a value to instantly convert between power units.
1 Megawatt = 3412141.6331 BTU/hour
Key Formulas
Kilowatt → Horsepower (mech)
hp = kW × 1.34102Horsepower (mech) → Kilowatt
kW = hp × 0.7457Watt → Kilowatt
kW = W × 0.001Kilowatt → Watt
W = kW × 1000Formula
BTU/h = MW × 3,412,140Large industrial boilers, district heating plants, and combined heat-and-power systems are specified in MW for electrical interconnection, but HVAC contractors and mechanical engineers in North America work in BTU/h. Converting between the two is essential when specifying equipment across international standards or when sizing North American HVAC to handle heat loads from large electrical equipment rated in MW.
Source: NIST SP 811, Table B.8
Last reviewed: · see our methodology
Frequently Asked Questions
Real-World Examples
1 MW of waste heat from an industrial process = 3,412,140 BTU/h — equivalent to 284 tons of cooling needed to reject it.
1 MW = 3412140 BTU/h
0.293 MW = 1,000,000 BTU/h (1 MMBtu/h) — the standard unit for large commercial boilers in North America.
0.293 MW = 1000000 BTU/h
A 10 MW CHP plant heat output = 34,121,400 BTU/h — serving a district heating network for several thousand apartments.
10 MW = 34121400 BTU/h
A 0.05 MW (50 kW) electrical load from a motor room = 170,607 BTU/h — the cooling load if all energy becomes waste heat.
0.05 MW = 170607 BTU/h