Milliwatt to Gigawatt Converter

A milliwatt (mW) is a unit of power equal to one thousandth of a watt (0.001 W). It represents very small amounts of power typically found in electronic devices, sensors, and low-power applications.

The milliwatt became important with the development of electronics and semiconductor technology. It provided an appropriate scale for describing the power consumption of transistors, integrated circuits, and electronic devices where power efficiency was crucial.

Milliwatts are used in electronics for component power ratings, laser output specifications, radio frequency applications, and low-power device design. They're standard for electronic component specifications, sensor power consumption, and precision instruments.

A gigawatt (GW) is a unit of power equal to one billion watts (10⁹ W). It represents extremely large amounts of power typically associated with major power plants, national electricity grids, and large-scale energy infrastructure.

The gigawatt became important with the development of large-scale power generation in the 20th century. It provided a convenient scale for describing the output of major power plants, particularly nuclear and large hydroelectric facilities, and became essential for energy policy and grid planning.

Gigawatts are used to measure the capacity of large power plants, national electricity consumption, renewable energy installations, and major industrial facilities. They're standard for describing nuclear plant output, large solar farms, and national energy statistics.