The Eclipse Puts Europe’s Solar-Dominated Grid to the Test

Europe has never been as reliant on the Sun as it is now. According to Ember, the energy sector think tank, more than 25% of the EU’s electricity came from solar panels in June this year.

But what would happen if the Sun were to suddenly stop shining, or the continent’s solar farms were to all stop working?

However unlikely these hypothetical situations may be, the recent historic solar eclipse provided Europe with the perfect opportunity to test how it might respond. 

Spain experienced the most pronounced effects. The country witnessed the first total eclipse to cross mainland Europe in decades. Red Eléctrica, Spain's grid operator, estimated a loss of about 5GW of solar power – roughly 13% of the usual demand on a Wednesday in August.

Portugal's grid operator, REN, meanwhile, said it would need to use extra hydroelectric or thermal reserves. These measures were necessary to keep the connection with Spain stable.

Despite these estimates, no significant disruption to supply was reported by grid operators once the eclipse had passed, though the exercise still carried real stakes for a grid already under strain from Europe's summer heatwave and low hydro reservoir levels in Norway.

Further reading:

• The Eclipse Puts Europe's Solar-Dominated Grid to the Test

• What Happened to Europe’s Solar Power During the Eclipse? | Energy Digital

• Opinion: What Happened to Spain’s Energy System When the Sun Went Out?