Kilowatthodiny

Kilowatthodiny, abbreviated as kWh, are a unit of energy commonly used to measure electrical energy. The term corresponds to the Czech plural form kilowatthodiny; the singular is kilowatodhodina (note: actual Czech spelling is kilowatthodina for singular). A kilowatt-hour represents the amount of energy transferred if a device with a power of one kilowatt runs for one hour. Put simply, 1 kWh equals 1000 watt-hours, or 3,600,000 joules. The kilowatt-hour is a practical unit for energy, while the watt (W) and kilowatt (kW) measure power.

In everyday use, kWh is the standard unit for electrical energy consumption and production. Electricity meters track cumulative kWh, and billing is typically based on kilowatt-hours used. The capacity of batteries and storage systems is also commonly expressed in kWh, indicating how much energy they can store.

One kilowatt-hour may be thought of as the energy required to operate a 1 kW device for one hour, or options combining different power levels and durations that multiply to 1 kWh. While the joule is the SI unit of energy, the kilowatt-hour is a widely used non-SI unit accepted for use with SI in energy contexts due to its convenience for daily and commercial calculations.

Kilowatthodiny are integral to energy policy, pricing, efficiency metrics, and renewable energy planning, providing a clear, comparable measure of electrical energy over time.