Quick answer
Megawatt A megawatt (MW) is a unit of power equal to 1,000 kilowatts or one million watts. In solar it is the size unit for solar farms, large rooftops and the state and national capacity totals that agencies publish.
A home system is a few kilowatts, so it is a small slice of one megawatt. A megawatt says how much power a plant can deliver at once, not how much energy it makes in a year.
Quick facts
The key facts about megawatt, with sources:
- Equal to
- 1,000 kW, or 1,000,000 watts 1
- Next unit up
- 1 gigawatt (GW) = 1,000 MW 1
- US small-scale solar PV (estimated), July 2026
- About 62,840 MW 2
- EIA plant reporting threshold
- Plants of 1 MW or more of nameplate capacity 5
- US utility-scale PV capacity factor, 2025
- 24.4% (preliminary) 4
- Solar planned for 2026
- 43.4 GW of new utility-scale solar 6
Key takeaways
- One megawatt is 1,000 kilowatts. It measures power, the rate of output, not energy.
- Solar farms and state capacity totals are counted in MW. Home systems are counted in kW.
- An 8 kW home system is 0.008 MW. It would take 125 of them to add up to one megawatt.
- US solar plants made power at about 24% of their full MW rating across 2025, the EIA reports.
- The MW on a farm can be AC or DC. Always check which one a news story or proposal uses.
What a megawatt measures
Power is how fast electricity flows at one moment. The base unit is the watt. A megawatt is one million watts. The prefix "mega" means a million in the metric system, the same way "kilo" means a thousand.
We use bigger units because the numbers get large fast. Writing a solar farm as 200,000 kW is clumsy. Writing it as 200 MW is easy to read. The kilowatt page covers the home-sized unit and how it shows up on a quote. This page covers the step above it.
A megawatt is a rating, like the top speed on a car. A plant rated at 100 MW can push out up to 100 MW when the sun is strong. At night it makes zero. To count what a plant made over time, you need an energy unit, the megawatt-hour.
The power ladder from a panel to the grid
| Unit | Equal to | Where you meet it in solar |
|---|---|---|
| Watt (W) | 1 W | One panel’s rating, such as 430 W on a data sheet |
| Kilowatt (kW) | 1,000 W | A home system, such as 8 kW DC |
| Megawatt (MW) | 1,000 kW | A solar farm, a big warehouse roof, a community solar garden |
| Gigawatt (GW) | 1,000 MW | State and national totals, such as 43.4 GW of solar planned for 2026 6 |
MWac and MWdc: two sizes for one solar farm
A solar farm has two power ratings. The panels add up to a DC size, called MWdc. The inverters, which turn DC into the AC the grid uses, add up to an AC size, called MWac.
Builders often put more panels than inverter capacity on a site. That gap is the DC-to-AC ratio. A farm might be 120 MWdc on the panel side and 100 MWac at the grid. On bright hours the inverters cap the output, which is called clipping.
The EIA reports plants by net summer capacity. It defines that as the most power the equipment can supply to the grid during a summer test, after the plant’s own use. That is an AC figure. Press releases sometimes quote the bigger DC number. When two numbers for one farm disagree, this is usually why.
Kinds of solar projects measured in megawatts
| Project type | Usual size unit | Who uses the power |
|---|---|---|
| Home rooftop | kW (well under 1 MW) | The household, with extra sent to the grid |
| Commercial roof or carport | Hundreds of kW, sometimes over 1 MW | A business, school or church |
| Community solar garden | Often around 1 MW to a few MW | Subscribers who buy credits from a shared array |
| Utility-scale solar farm | Tens to hundreds of MW | A utility or a buyer under a long contract |
| Largest new projects | Hundreds of MW; 837 MW for the biggest planned in 2026 6 | Regional grid markets |
Example: what one megawatt of solar makes in a year
This example uses only EIA figures and simple math. It shows why a MW rating alone does not tell you the output.
| Step | Math | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Hours in a year | 24 × 365 | 8,760 hours |
| If 1 MW ran flat out all year | 1 MW × 8,760 h | 8,760 MWh |
| US utility-scale PV capacity factor, 2025 4 | 24.4% of the maximum | — |
| Realistic yearly output | 8,760 MWh × 0.244 | About 2,137 MWh |
| Average US home use, 2022 7 | 10,791 kWh = 10.791 MWh a year | — |
| Homes’ worth of yearly energy | 2,137 ÷ 10.791 | About 198 homes |
So a rule of thumb of "one megawatt powers about 200 homes" fits the national average for solar. It is a yearly energy match, not a promise of power at night. Output from a real farm depends on its location, tilt, tracking and weather. The capacity factor page explains the ratio in full.
How a home system compares with a megawatt
| Example home system | One megawatt | US utility-scale solar fleet | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power rating | 8 kW | 1,000 kW | About 165,310 MW 2 |
| In megawatts | 0.008 MW | 1 MW | About 165 GW |
| Units to make 1 MW | 125 homes of this size | 1 | — |
| Counted by the EIA as | Small-scale solar (under 1 MW) | The cut-off line | Utility-scale |
| Related term | Kilowatt | This page | Megawatt-hour for output |
Where the megawatts are: EIA capacity data
The EIA counts every power plant of 1 MW or more each month on Form EIA-860M. Its Electric Power Monthly table 6.2.B lists capacity by state. For July 2026 it shows about 165,310 MW of utility-scale solar PV in the US.
The same table estimates about 62,840 MW of small-scale solar. That is rooftop and other systems under 1 MW, mostly homes and businesses. So roughly a quarter of US solar capacity sits on rooftops and small sites, and the rest is in large plants.
More is coming. In February 2026 the EIA said developers planned 86 GW of new generating capacity for the year, a record if built.
Solar was 43.4 GW of that, and batteries 24 GW. The largest planned solar project was an 837 MW site in Texas. Our solar energy statistics page tracks more of these numbers.
Why solar is built in megawatt blocks
Benefits of large projects
- One grid connection and one crew serve thousands of panels.
- Farms can use trackers that follow the sun, which raises output per MW.
- Utilities can plan around a known, metered supply.
- Community solar lets renters and shaded homes buy into a MW-scale array.
Trade-offs
- Power travels farther on lines, and some is lost on the way.
- Large sites need land, studies and grid upgrades that take years.
- A farm does not cut your own bill unless you subscribe or your utility passes savings on.
- Output still drops at night and in winter, the same as a rooftop.
What a megawatt number does not tell you
A MW rating is the ceiling, not the average. In January 2026 US solar plants ran at a 15.7% capacity factor. In July 2026 they ran at 32.4%. The same megawatts made about twice as much energy in summer as in winter.
MW also hides the AC or DC question above. And it says nothing about when the power arrives. A solar MW delivers most of its output around midday. A battery measured in MW can shift some of that into the evening, but only for as many hours as its energy rating allows.
For your home, the MW figures in the news are context. Your own bill depends on kWh you use and how your utility credits exports. The kilowatt-hour page explains that side.
Sources: [4]
Cost drivers at megawatt scale
We do not print a price per megawatt. Prices for large projects depend on contracts we cannot verify. What we can say is how scale changes the cost drivers.
Per watt, large farms usually cost less to build than home systems. Buying equipment by the truckload, using one site and one connection spreads fixed costs across far more watts. Land, grid upgrades and long studies add costs that a rooftop never faces.
For a home, the useful number is cost per watt of your own system. Our cost per watt guide and cost by system size page cover that. Panel life and inverter replacement are on the solar panel and inverter pages.
How a megawatt-scale solar farm gets built
Big projects follow a longer path than a rooftop. These are the usual stages. Timing and rules differ by state and utility.
- A developer finds land near power lines with room on the grid.
- The developer applies to the utility or grid operator to connect. Studies check whether the lines can carry the new MW.
- Local zoning and state permits are sought. Some states need a siting approval for larger plants.
- The developer signs a contract to sell the power, often to a utility.
- Crews build racking, panels, inverters, a substation and the line to the grid.
- The plant is tested and starts commercial operation. Once it reaches 1 MW or more, it reports to the EIA 5.
A home goes through a shorter version: permit, inspection and permission to operate.
Keeping megawatts producing
A farm’s owner tracks output against expected output every day. If a block of panels or an inverter drops out, the MW available falls and someone is sent to fix it. Mowing, cleaning and inverter service are routine jobs at that scale.
At home the same idea works on a smaller screen. Your monitoring app shows kW now and kWh per day. Compare a month with the same month last year. A sudden drop is worth a call to your installer, or our monitoring service page.
Red flags when you see megawatt claims
MW numbers often show up in ads, news and community solar offers. Watch for these:
- A claim of "powers X homes" with no capacity factor or home-use number behind it.
- A MW size with no AC or DC label.
- A community solar offer that quotes the farm’s MW but not your share in kWh per year.
- Treating MW of batteries as if it were hours of storage. Hours come from MWh.
- Mixing up MW of capacity with MWh of generation in one sentence.
Rule of thumb
Power (MW) tells you size. Energy (MWh) tells you value. Ask for both before you compare any two solar offers.
Rules that turn on megawatt size
Federal reporting. The US Energy Information Administration requires plants with 1 MW or more of combined nameplate capacity to report on Form EIA-860M, its monthly generator survey. That is why EIA data splits solar at 1 MW.
Grid connection. IEEE 1547-2018 is the US standard for connecting distributed energy resources to the distribution grid. It covers all DER technologies at distribution voltages, from a home system up to larger sites. Your utility and state regulator decide which edition they enforce.
State and utility rules. Interconnection steps, study fees and size tiers are set in each state’s rules and each utility’s tariff. Bigger systems usually face more study. Our interconnection guide and the hosting capacity lookup help you see where your utility stands.
Misconceptions about megawatts
- Myth A 1 MW farm makes 1 MW all day.
- Reality It makes up to 1 MW at its best moment. Across 2025 US solar plants averaged 24.4% of their rating 4.
- Myth MW and MWh are the same thing.
- Reality MW is the rate. MWh is the amount over time. A 1 MW plant running one full hour makes 1 MWh.
- Myth "Powers 200 homes" means 200 homes run on it at night.
- Reality It means the yearly energy matches what about that many homes use in a year. At night the farm makes nothing.
- Myth Rooftop solar is too small to matter.
- Reality EIA estimates about 62,840 MW of small-scale solar in the US as of July 2026 2.
Solar megawatts in SC, GA and VA
EIA table 6.2.B for July 2026 shows about 1,998 MW of utility-scale solar PV in South Carolina, 5,485 MW in Georgia and 5,293 MW in Virginia.
Estimated small-scale solar was about 427 MW in SC, 393 MW in Georgia and 759 MW in Virginia 2.
Through July 2026, utility-scale solar made about 2.43 million MWh in SC, 6.72 million MWh in Georgia and 4.40 million MWh in Virginia 3.
Home systems in all three states are sized in kW and fall under each utility’s own size caps.
When the megawatt matters to you
Most homeowners never need the MW unit. It does matter when:
- You are weighing community solar against rooftop and the offer quotes a farm in MW.
- You own land and a developer asks to lease it for a solar farm.
- You run a business or farm and your project nears 1 MW.
- You read state or utility plans and want to follow how much solar is being built.
Next steps
- Community solar finderSee shared solar options near you
- Solar system size calculatorFind your own home size in kW
- Rooftop solar by stateSmall-scale solar compared across states
Questions about megawatt
How many kilowatts are in a megawatt?
There are 1,000 kilowatts in one megawatt. That also equals one million watts. The EIA uses these conversions in its own units guide. To turn kW into MW, divide by 1,000. An 8 kW home system is 0.008 MW. To go the other way, multiply MW by 1,000 to get kW.
How many homes can 1 MW of solar power?
About 200 homes over a year, using national averages. One MW at the 2025 US solar capacity factor of 24.4% makes about 2,137 MWh a year. The average US home used 10,791 kWh in 2022. Dividing gives about 198 homes. That is a yearly match, not power at night.
What is the difference between a megawatt and a megawatt-hour?
A megawatt is power, the rate of output at one moment. A megawatt-hour is energy, the amount made over time. A 1 MW plant running at full power for one hour makes 1 MWh. Plants are sized in MW. Their yearly output and sales are counted in MWh.
How much land does a 1 MW solar farm need?
It varies with panel type, spacing, trackers and the shape of the site. We have not found a current federal figure we can stand behind for a single number, so we do not give one. A developer’s site plan will show the acres for a specific project. Ask for it in writing.
What does MWac or MWdc mean?
MWdc is the total rating of the panels. MWac is the total rating of the inverters that feed the grid. The DC number is usually larger, because builders add extra panels. The EIA reports net summer capacity, which is the power delivered to the grid.
How much utility-scale solar does the US have?
About 165,310 MW of utility-scale solar PV as of July 2026, per EIA table 6.2.B. The EIA also estimates about 62,840 MW of small-scale solar, mostly rooftops. Developers planned 43.4 GW more utility-scale solar for 2026, according to an EIA report from February 2026.
Is a home solar system ever measured in megawatts?
Almost never. Home systems are a few kilowatts, so writing them in MW gives tiny decimals. The EIA counts anything under 1 MW as small-scale solar. A large farm, school or warehouse roof can pass 1 MW. At that point the EIA requires the plant to report each month.
Why does a solar farm not produce its full megawatts?
Because sunlight changes all day and all year. Output is zero at night and lower in winter and on cloudy days. In 2025 US solar plants averaged 24.4% of their rating. The monthly figure ranged from 15.7% in January 2026 to 32.4% in July 2026.
How much solar does South Carolina have in megawatts?
About 1,998 MW of utility-scale solar PV in July 2026, per EIA table 6.2.B. The EIA also estimates about 427 MW of small-scale solar in the state. Georgia had about 5,485 MW of utility-scale solar and Virginia about 5,293 MW in the same month.
Sources
- US EIA, Electricity explained: Measuring electricity, retrieved .
- US EIA, Electric Power Monthly Table 6.2.B, Net summer capacity using primarily renewable sources by state, July 2026, retrieved .
- US EIA, Electric Power Monthly Table 1.17.B, Net generation from solar PV by state, year to date through July 2026, retrieved .
- US EIA, Electric Power Monthly Table 6.07.B, Capacity factors for utility-scale non-fossil generators, retrieved .
- US EIA, Form EIA-860M Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory, retrieved .
- US EIA, Today in Energy: New US electric generating capacity expected to reach a record high in 2026 (20 Feb 2026), retrieved .
- US EIA, FAQ: How much electricity does an American home use? (2022 data), retrieved .
- US EIA, Glossary: Net summer capacity, retrieved .
- NIST, SP 330 (The International System of Units), Section 2, retrieved .
- IEEE, 1547-2018 Standard for Interconnection and Interoperability of Distributed Energy Resources, retrieved .
Expert review
Written by the HyreSolar Research team. Not yet reviewed by an outside expert. We say so rather than imply a review that has not happened; see our editorial policy.
How the numbers were checked: Unit definitions from the EIA and NIST.
Capacity, generation and capacity factors from EIA Electric Power Monthly tables 6.2.B, 1.17.B and 6.07.B (July 2026 data), read on the retrieval date. Planned additions from EIA Today in Energy (Feb 2026).
The homes example is arithmetic on EIA figures. No price per MW is given (G-COST).
Suggest a correction. We fix errors and say what changed.