What Impact Will A Solar Eclipse Have on Solar Photovoltaic Power Generation in the United States Today?

On April 8, 2024, the solar eclipse will begin off the Pacific coast of Mexico at approximately 11:07 a.m. PDT and last until 5:19 p.m. ET in parts of the United States and Canada. With the sky set to darken completely within six minutes, analysts studied the potential impact on solar power generation. The last solar eclipse, which occurred in the United States in 2017, had little impact on solar production, but solar energy contributed only 1.3% to the grid at that time, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that solar power will account for 6% of U.S. electricity generation this year, a significant increase from 2017 and enough to raise concerns about the eclipse effect. Solcast, a DNV-owned solar modeling and forecasting company, reported that the impact on solar power generation across the United States could be greater than any previous eclipse due to increased solar power generation.

Solcast, a DNV-owned solar modeling and forecasting company, reported that the impact on solar power generation across the United States could be greater than any previous eclipse due to increased solar power generation. According to Solcast, the maximum duration of affected power generation will be more than 90 minutes, with the maximum loss lasting up to 6 minutes. Solcast estimates that across all grids, the maximum calculated loss is up to 39.9 GWh, of which 16.2 GWh will be lost to household rooftop solar. To make up for the potential loss of solar energy flowing into the grid, grid operators must be prepared to rely on other sources to ensure grid stability, as they did during the 2017 and 2023 solar eclipses. Texas utility ERCOT is monitoring the event. The state's power grid will be affected by the eclipse between 12:10 and 3:10 p.m. ET, or during peak production hours. ERCOT could lose nearly 11% of its normal generation capacity. 

Looking back at the August 17, 2017 solar eclipse, 76% of Northern California and 62% of Southern California were blocked from sunlight. At that time, more than 21 GW of installed PV systems were affected and solar farm production will decrease. Nearly 66%, rising rapidly. To reduce stress on the grid, the California Public Utilities Commission urged residents to reduce energy use between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. that day. But during the 2024 solar eclipse, there were no calls to limit electricity use. In fact, the 2017 solar eclipse also affected Georgia, but there was almost no fluctuation in the state's power system at that time. Georgia Power also live-streamed the eclipse at the time and observed a significant drop in solar power during the three minutes of the eclipse, but no faults occurred on the grid.

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