Solar eclipse: photovoltaic production falls by nearly 500 MW in France

The solar eclipse of August 12, 2026, caused a limited and temporary drop in photovoltaic production in France. The decline began between 19:15 p.m. and 19:30 p.m., without affecting the electricity supply to consumers.

Solar production reduced to 1.052 MW

At 20:15 pm, at the height of the eclipse, French photovoltaic production stood at 1.052 MW. It reached 1.534 MW at the same time the day before, in relatively similar weather conditions, a difference of 482 MW.

Solar production then returned to levels comparable to those observed the previous day around 21 p.m., according to RTE data. This phenomenon occurred at the end of the day, when photovoltaic power was already naturally decreasing as sunset approached.

The daily peak had exceeded 21.000 MW around 14 p.m. By 22 p.m., after sunset across metropolitan France, photovoltaic production had fallen to just 235 MW.

No disruption to the electricity supply

At 20:15 pm, total electricity production in France exceeded 50.000 MW. Nuclear power supplied more than 33.000 MW, with a level that remained almost constant throughout the day.

National nuclear production was nevertheless reduced by the unavailability of several reactors. Some limitations were in response to environmental constraints related to river temperatures, in order to limit the heating of discharged water and to protect aquatic environments.

At the same time, electricity consumption amounted to 47.800 MW, a level lower than RTE's forecasts. The grid operator therefore reported no difficulties in maintaining the balance between production and consumption.

A decline less severe than the maximum scenario envisaged

Before the eclipse, RTE estimated that French photovoltaic production could decrease by approximately 1.800 MW in the event of clear skies. This assumption took into account solar obscuration that could reach 99% in some parts of the country.

The operator anticipated a rapid but temporary variation between 19:30 p.m. and 21:30 p.m. The timing of the phenomenon, close to nightfall, as well as the preparation of the network's operating teams, made it possible to rule out any risk of disruption for consumers.

With installed solar capacity in France now exceeding 30.000 MW, solar eclipses are subject to specific monitoring. RTE also coordinates its forecasts with other European grid operators to anticipate simultaneous variations in production across interconnected networks.