What are 24,000 megawatts capable of doing?

Question

I am going to use this estimation for some research I am doing. I don't know much about electricity so I would appreciate some guidance.

Answer 1

Geez -- that's a bunch of watts!

It is claimed that the average US home uses between 900W and 1060W (average during a day) -- depends upon the source for this information.

So your 24,000MW would power between 22.6 million and 26.7 million homes (not counting peak use, of course -- that would be a very regional thing, involving time of the year, time of day, etc.).

Alternately, you could power 240 million 100W light bulbs!

As a point of reference, the power plant at Hoover Dam has the generator capacity to produce 2,080MW.

In 2006, it is estimated that from ALL sources, the U.S. was producing 449MW (instantaneous average). So in theory, your device (again, on average, and without considering peak loading issues which are very important to the equation) could take care of 5.3% of the country's electric needs as of 2006.

Answer 2

24,000 MW is enough to power all of northern Illinois on the hottest day in the middle of summer.

Or all of Florida Power & Light under those same conditions.

It would also be enough to power all of Consolidated Edison (NYC) PLUS the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LA) on their peak summer days with room to spare.


One average US home has a peak demand of around 5 kW.
The Sears Tower in Chicago has a peak of around 24 MW.

Or, power 19 trips in the Back to the Future Delorean. (1.21 GW per trip) You're just a bit short for that 20th trip.

Answer 3

If you want a different way of looking at it from the very good first answer, it's a little over 2 times the power output of the space shuttle at liftoff.