Europe anticipates a drop in photovoltaic production during the solar eclipse of August 12

European electricity grid operators are preparing for the rapid and temporary drop in photovoltaic production expected during the solar eclipse on August 12. A coordination unit has been established to maintain the balance of the electricity system and ensure continuity of supply.

The solar eclipse of August 12 will offer a rare spectacle to the general public, but will also represent a technical challenge for electricity grid operators. They must constantly maintain a balance between production and consumption to guarantee security of supply.

"Under clear skies, photovoltaic production could decrease to as low as 9,7 GW across Europe," indicated the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E).

This decline will be temporary, but it will occur quickly as the Moon obscures the Sun, before an equally rapid rise in photovoltaic production.

A coordination unit has been set up.

Network managers have opened a crisis unit tasked with coordinating preparations, monitoring the situation and facilitating the sharing of information before, during and after the eclipse.

The operators are "ready to guarantee the safe and stable operation of the electrical system throughout the duration of the event," ENTSO-E assures.

Spain, where the eclipse will be total in some regions, is expected to experience the sharpest decline in solar power production. Germany is also expected to be particularly affected due to the size of its photovoltaic infrastructure.

Solar power represents 13% of the European electricity mix

The European Union had approximately 406 GW of installed solar capacity by the end of 2025, according to SolarPower Europe. Photovoltaics now account for about 13% of the European electricity mix.

This rise in solar power is forcing network managers to better integrate rapid variations in sunlight into the control of the electrical system.

European managers are "increasingly dealing with meteorological and natural phenomena that can influence production profiles over short periods," ENTSO-E underlines.

The European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity brings together 40 operators in 36 countries.

A total eclipse visible in several European regions

This total eclipse will be the first observable in continental Europe since 2006. It will be visible from some isolated regions of northern Russia, as well as in Greenland, Iceland, northern Spain and the extreme northeast of Portugal.