ClimateJuly 15, 2026

megawatt

/ˈmɛɡəwɒt/

Definition

A unit of power equal to one million watts, used here to quantify the high electricity output required by large-scale energy projects.

Etymology

The word is a hybrid formation combining the Greek 'megas' (meaning 'great' or 'large') with the English unit 'watt,' named after the Scottish inventor James Watt. It was adopted into technical terminology in the late 19th century to measure industrial-scale power production.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe the immense scale of electricity generation needed for geothermal, wind, and solar projects to support energy-intensive data centers.

As gas plants rise to power AI, renewable energy allies are fighting for cleaner alternatives

Read the full article ↗

Mon Valley Independent

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