MWe

MWe stands for megawatt electrical, a unit of electrical power equal to one million watts. The designation emphasizes that the power quantity refers to electrical energy output, as opposed to thermal energy. In practice, MWe is often written as MW_e or simply MWe, depending on regional conventions, to distinguish electrical power from other forms such as thermal power.

In the energy generation industry, plant output is typically reported in MWe. The term net MWe refers to the electrical power delivered to the grid after subtracting on-site auxiliary consumption by the plant (pumps, fans, and other equipment). Gross MWe, by contrast, is the total electrical power generated by the turbine–generator before accounting for plant services. The distinction matters for grid planning and performance reporting.

MWe is related to thermal power, usually expressed in megawatts thermal (MWth). The electrical output equals the thermal input multiplied by the overall efficiency: MWe = η × MWth, where η is the plant’s electrical efficiency. Accordingly, MWth = MWe / η. Typical nuclear or fossil-fuel plants operate with efficiencies in the range of around 30–40%, though actual values vary by design and type.

MWe is used globally in power generation documentation, grid interconnection studies, and capacity planning to convey how much electrical power a facility can provide. It is a real-power quantity, distinct from S and Q, which describe apparent power and reactive power, respectively. See also megawatt (MW), megawatt electric (MW_e), megawatt thermal (MWth), and power terminology.