European energy operators are braced for next week’s solar eclipse to cause a temporary dip in power generation and have taken steps to keep electricity flowing to businesses and consumers, an industry body said on Friday.While the eclipse on Wednesday offers a rare spectacle for the general public, it presents a technical challenge for grid operators, which must constantly balance electricity supply and demand to guarantee secure power provision.“Under clear-sky conditions, photovoltaic output could decrease by up to 9.7GW across Europe, creating a rapid, but predictable change in generation patterns between 19:15-21:30 CEST,” said the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E), the association representing Europe’s power grid operators.
Certified eclipse viewing glasses, which meet the requirements for direct observation of the sun, are displayed at Astromo in Palma de Mallorca on June 25.
Operators were “ready to ensure the secure and stable operation of the electricity system throughout the event,” it said.A task force to coordinate preparations, monitor the situation and aid information-sharing before and after the eclipse has been activated, it added.
