gigawatt

noun

giga·​watt ˈji-gə-ˌwät How to pronounce gigawatt (audio) ˈgi- How to pronounce gigawatt (audio)
: a unit of power equal to one billion watts

Examples of gigawatt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Over 200 gigawatts of European solar capacity is already linked to inverters manufactured in China—the equivalent of more than 200 nuclear power plants. Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026 The French plan follows SoftBank’s announcement in March to launch a large-scale data center project in Ohio, potentially channeling $500 billion to install 10 gigawatts of capacity. Benoit Berthelot, Fortune, 30 May 2026 According to a report by the Rocky Mountain Institute, VPPs could reduce peak demand in the United States by 60 gigawatts by 2030 and help reduce annual power sector expenditures by $17 billion. Brian Cheung, NBC news, 30 May 2026 Despite Con Ed’s claims, battery deployment in its territory is just getting started, with 117 megawatts operating today, less than 1% of the utility’s 13-gigawatt peak. Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 30 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for gigawatt

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1962, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gigawatt was circa 1962

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Cite this Entry

“Gigawatt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gigawatt. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.

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