Energy Examples
The following table gives "real-world" examples of the quantities of energy and power represented by metric units (Joules and Watts) modified by metric prefixes.
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Modifier |
Primary Energy examples |
Power examples |
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Name |
Value |
Unit |
Example, energy sufficient to |
Unit |
Example, about the power of: |
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|
E |
exa |
1018 |
Exa.Joule |
Australia's annual crude oil consumption = 1.5 Exa.Joules. Australia's annual coal consumption = 1.75 Exa.Joules. Solar energy falling on Australia in two minutes = 1 Exa.Joule /td> |
Exa.Watt |
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|
P |
peta |
1015 |
PetaJoule |
Australia's annual natural gas consumption = 800 Peta.Joules. |
PetaWatt |
peak solar power falling on Australia is over 8 PetaWatts |
|
T |
tera |
1012 |
TeraJoule |
medium factory gas use in one year. |
TeraWatt |
peak solar power falling on all Australian buildings |
|
100 GJ |
An average car will use about 50 GJ of fuel per year. |
100 GW |
peak solar power falling on Australian home roofs is about 400 GW the total Australian maximum electrical demand is around 50 GW. |
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10 GJ |
gas consumption of efficient home (10-30 GJ) in one year |
10 GW |
peak electrical demand of NSW |
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G |
Giga |
109 |
GigaJoule |
solar energy falling on a Hobart home roof in one day in Winter. |
GigaWatt |
medium-large power station. total peak output of Australia's domestic solar water heaters. |
|
100 MJ |
coal used to supply average home with electricity for one day. |
100 MW |
small power station / large cogeneration plant |
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10 MJ |
a ten minute shower |
10 MW |
largest factories |
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M |
Mega |
106 |
Mega.Joule |
run a large TV or a PC for one hour |
1 MegaWatt |
largest city building, medium hospital, medium-large factory. |
|
100 kJ |
make a cup of tea with a gas kettle. primary energy to charge transistor battery. |
100 kW |
electricity for medium office building. peak solar power on same building |
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10 kJ |
10 kW |
large electric water heater, peak demand of medium-large home. |
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k |
kilo |
103 |
kiloJoule |
1 kiloWatt |
domestic heater or air-conditioner. The peak solar energy falling on 1m² of the earth. /p> |
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| < |
100 |
100 Joule |
100 Watts |
desktop computer, incandescent light, person standing. |
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10 |
10 Joule |
10 Watts |
notebook computer, VCR, |
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- |
- |
(=1) |
Joule |
1 Watt |
transistor radio (~5 W). |
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