Gigawatts to Volt-Amperes Converter
Enter the power in gigawatts below to convert it to volt-amperes.
Convert Gigawatts to Volt-Amperes
Enter a value in gigawatts (GW) to convert to volt-amperes (VA).
Gigawatt to Volt-Ampere Conversion Table
Table showing various gigawatt measurements converted to volt-amperes. Click any preset value or arrow to load it into the converter.
How to Convert Gigawatts to Volt-Amperes
To convert gigawatts to volt-amperes, multiply the power by the following conversion ratio: 1,000,000,000 volt-amperes/gigawatt.
Since one gigawatt is equal to 1,000,000,000 volt-amperes, you can use this simple formula to convert:
The power in volt-amperes is equal to the power in gigawatts multiplied by 1,000,000,000.
For example, here's how to convert 5 gigawatts to volt-amperes using the formula above.
How Many Volt-Amperes Are in a Gigawatt?
There are 1,000,000,000 volt-amperes in a gigawatt, which is why we use this value in the formula above.
Our gigawatt to volt-ampere calculator automatically converts your power measurements with full decimal and scientific precision across US customary, imperial, and SI metric standards.
Gigawatts and volt-amperes are both units used to measure power. Keep reading to learn more about each unit.
What Is a Gigawatt?
A gigawatt is a unit of power equal to 1,000,000,000 watts (W), the base unit for power. Equal to 1,000,000,000 Watts (1,000 MW). [1]
The gigawatt is classified as an International System of Units (SI) unit of power. Gigawatts can be abbreviated as GW; for example, 1 gigawatt can be written as 1 GW.
In the metric system, "giga" is the standard SI prefix for billions, or 10⁹. This makes the gigawatt (GW) a convenient decimal multiple of the watt (W).
In practice, gigawatts (GW) are widely used across large-scale industrial, bulk, and macro-level power specifications within International System of Units (SI) workflows, engineering documentation, and technical data sheets.
What Is a Volt-Ampere?
A volt-ampere is a unit of power equal to 1 watts (W), the base unit for power. Apparent electrical power unit (equivalent to 1 W at unity power factor). [2]
The volt-ampere is classified as an International System of Units (SI) unit of power. Volt-Amperes can be abbreviated as VA; for example, 1 volt-ampere can be written as 1 VA.
When working with volt-amperes (VA) in formulas or technical specifications, always verify whether your target system uses SI metric, US customary, or British imperial standards.
In practice, volt-amperes (VA) are widely used across standard power applications within International System of Units (SI) workflows, engineering documentation, and technical data sheets.
When converting power between gigawatts (GW) and volt-amperes (VA), keep full floating-point precision (1 GW = 1,000,000,000 VA; 1 VA = 1e-9 GW) during intermediate calculations and round only the final volt-ampere figure to match your instrument tolerance.
More Gigawatt & Volt-Ampere Conversions
Need to calculate in the opposite direction? Use our volt-amperes to gigawatts calculator to switch your starting unit immediately. You can also explore related tools such as converting volt-amperes to gigawatts, converting watts to horsepower (hp), or converting horsepower (hp) to watts.
Convert from Gigawatts
Frequently Asked Questions
References
- [1]NIST SP 811 StandardNIST SP 811 (NIST SP 811 App. B.9 (Power & Radiant Flux))·Power Metrology Standard — Gigawatts (GW) to Volt-Amperes (VA)
- [2]NIST CUU SpecificationNIST CUU (Derived SI Unit: Watt (W))·Unit Specifications: Gigawatt (GW) & Volt-Ampere (VA) (VA)
- [3]BIPM ReferenceBIPM (SI Brochure (9th Ed.) — Power)·Conversion Factors & Mathematical Basis (GW to VA)