Zero Point Module (abbreviated ZPM) is an immensely strong and very long-lived energy source capable of powering entire cities and intergalactic spacecraft.
So how much power can it actually generate? Here are some quotes from the show.
"A ZPM is shaped like a rough cylinder, perhaps twelve to eighteen inches in length, and six to eight inches diameter."
"To get a sense of scale of the power generation provided by ZPMs, the following is known: one square centimeter of the space that is artificially contained within a ZPM (if the assumption made that the artificial space is identical to "normal" space), contains enough energy to boil all the world's oceans"
Let's crunch the numbers
- 1,386,000,000 cubic kilometers of Water on earth
- 2.59588 kJ to boil 1cc of water
- 3.59788 x109 EJ to boil all water on earth
- 7 inches x 15in assume 1 inches for material -> 15cm x 35cm
- ZPM volume : 6185cc
- Total power output for a ZPM: 2.225 x1031 J / 1s -> 2.225 x1031 W
Total power ouput of the sun per day: 3.3 x1031 J / 24hrs -> 3.819 x1026 W
A ZPM produces total power output of over 58,000 Suns
- Used total water on earth, not just Oceans
- Assumption of structure of ZPM, unknown exactly how much space is open inside
- The wattage is never expressed, just joules. Assuming over 1 second of time to boil the oceans.
- Stated that 1 square centimeter of space generates power, not a measure of volume, assuming 1cc