1 MW generators, 1000 kW diesel and natural gas

1 MW, 1000 kW and 1250 kVA are the same set

Generator sets are sold in kW at a power factor of 0.8, so a 1,000 kW set is a 1,250 kVA set. A listing for a 1,000 kVA generator is a smaller unit, 800 kW. Check whether a price is for the standby or the prime rating, because the same engine carries a lower kW figure for prime power.

The current below is computed from 1,250 kVA. Use it for the main breaker, the transfer switch and the cable.

Computed. Amps equal kVA times 1,000 divided by the square root of 3 times the voltage. Sets for 4,160 V and above are medium voltage builds, most 1 MW sets are 480 V.

1 MW models from the main makers

Each maker builds a set at or near 1,000 kW, often on more than one engine. These are the published ratings for the units we found. Ratings change with voltage, emissions package and duty, so confirm on the spec sheet for the exact model you are quoted.

From maker and dealer pages and spec sheets read November 2026, listed under sources. Class means the model is sold as a 1,000 kW set, check the sheet for its standby and prime figures.

Fuel burn of a 1 MW diesel set

A 1 MW diesel set burns roughly 60 to 75 gallons an hour at full load, depending on the model and rating. That decides the tank. A sub base tank that runs a set for 24 hours at full load has to hold well over 1,500 gallons.

From the spec sheets listed under sources. Hours of runtime equal usable tank gallons divided by the burn rate at your load.

Diesel or natural gas, standby or prime

A diesel set stores its fuel on site. A natural gas set runs from a gas line, so there is no tank to refill. Data centers have started buying gas sets for prime power while they wait years for a grid connection, according to Power magazine.

Under ISO 8528, standby is for backup during an outage with a variable load and limited hours, prime is for running as the main source with no yearly hour limit, and continuous is for a constant load around the clock. Buy the rating that matches how the set will run.

Emissions tier at 1 MW

In the US, a diesel set this size used only for emergency backup can be Tier 2 certified. Maintenance and exercise running are capped at 100 hours a year. A set used for prime power, peak shaving or rental has to meet Tier 4. Tell us the duty and we only quote sets that meet it.

New and used 1 MW generator prices

These are public listing and dealer figures, not our prices. Enclosure, controls, the emissions package, voltage and whether switchgear comes with the set move the price as much as the brand.

Asking prices are not sold prices. Freight, the transfer switch, the pad, fuel and installation are extra.

Lead times

Large diesel sets are slow to build now because data centers buy them by the dozen. Power magazine reports lead times of a year or more for larger data center packages, and Cummins has been expanding a plant to tackle 18 month lead times on high horsepower units, according to MarketsandMarkets. Caterpillar reported a record order backlog of 63 billion dollars in 2026.

A surplus or used set that already exists can ship once it is tested and paid for, so the wait is the load bank test, any repairs and the freight. That is why many buyers price a used unit next to a new one.

The gear that goes with a 1 MW set

At 480 V the set puts out 1,504 A, so the transfer switch, the main breaker and the cable all have to be rated above that. If the set feeds a medium voltage system, it needs a step up transformer of at least 1,250 kVA, which in practice is a 1,500 kVA pad mounted unit, and a 480 V to 4,160 V or 12,470 V winding. Two or more sets can be paralleled on switchgear for redundancy or to grow later.

We quote the set, the transformer and the transfer or paralleling gear on one delivered quote, so the ratings line up before anything ships.

How much does a 1 MW generator cost

Broker listings for new 1 MW Cummins sets read in November 2026 asked $147,200 to $229,999 for the set alone. A 2026 dealer guide puts a used Kohler KD1100 at $88,000 to $155,000. Installation, the transfer switch, fuel and freight are extra.

How many amps is a 1 MW generator

At 0.8 power factor a 1,000 kW set is 1,250 kVA, which is 1,504 A at 480 V, 3,470 A at 208 V and 173 A at 4,160 V.

Is a 1000 kVA generator the same as 1 MW

No. At 0.8 power factor a 1,000 kVA set is 800 kW. A 1 MW set is 1,250 kVA.

How much fuel does a 1 MW generator use

About 60 to 75 gallons of diesel an hour at full load. The Kohler KD1000 sheet gives 70.9 gal/hr at full standby load, and the MTU DP1000D6S sheet gives 75 gal/hr at full load and 39 gal/hr at half load.

How long is the lead time for a 1 MW generator

New large diesel sets for data centers have been quoted at a year or more. A used or surplus set in stock can ship once it has passed a load bank test.

What size transformer goes with a 1 MW generator

A step up transformer of at least 1,250 kVA, which in standard sizes means a 1,500 kVA unit, wound for the generator voltage on one side and the site medium voltage on the other.