Solar power will decrease temporarily
Energy experts aware, say they’re not worried
The path of next week’s total solar eclipse will be so dark that Texas electric grid managers are forecasting a sudden, brief drop in solar power as the eclipse crosses the state – but experts say there’s no need for folks to worry.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas has predicted the eclipse will reduce solar generation’s maximum output to less than 10% of what it would be capable of if the sky was clear – but other sources of energy can compensate for the dip.
It’s a sign of how powerful the darkness will be as the celestial event unfolds, but it isn’t particularly concerning to energy experts.
Every energy technology that we use comes with trade-offs, said Melissa Lott of Columbia University’s Climate School, and that includes solar power.
Substantial problems during the Monday’s solar eclipse will not be part of that trade-off, added Lott, a professor and senior director of research at Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs Center on Global Energy Policy.
Here’s why:
Experts say the eclipse won’t disrupt the US power grid
Lott, who said she’s been fielding calls from concerned friends and relatives who rely on solar power, is happy to reassure energy consumers that even those in the eclipse’s path of totality – an arc from Texas to Maine across the United States – won’t notice much of a difference. Other power sources, like natural gas or hydropower, will be tapped by utility companies to make up for the temporary loss of solar power.
“We know the path it’s going to take. We have really good information to predict how long it’s going to last,” said Lott. “The people who run (power) grids can compensate because they know what to expect.”
Unlike dealing with a natural disaster or sudden weather emergency, utility companies can prepare for an eclipse with a path, timing and duration that are certain, Lott said.
A 2017 study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory traced the impact of a total solar eclipse on Aug. 21 of that year, looking at grid operations across 14 Western states; British Columbia, Canada; and northern Baja California, Mexico.
“The 2017 total solar eclipse came and went without causing any issues to the operation of the North American electric power system,” the study concluded.
“What was predicted (ahead of the 2017 eclipse) versus what happened was pretty dead-on,” said Lott.
Will the eclipse cause problems for people with solar panels?
There’s a specific, and highly unlikely, scenario in which homeowners would see their power briefly impacted: They would have to be disconnected from a traditional power grid, fully rely on solar power and be in the path of totality.
Given that, Lott said the eclipse isn’t cause for concern.
So enjoy the eclipse: Listen for the sounds of the birds and insects, feel the change in outdoor temperatures, gaze in wonder (safely, with the proper eyewear) at the celestial show.