- Analyst Insight

Monday's Eclipse to Diminish Solar Generation from Coast to Coast

Author Jason Lindquist
Monday’s solar eclipse will travel from Texas through the Midwest and up to New England, blocking out all direct sunlight for more than four minutes and obscuring the sun for more than two hours for those in the eclipse’s path of totality — where the moon will completely block the sun — but will diminish solar generation across the Lower 48, presenting challenges for power grids across the country.
- Blog

Total Eclipse of the Heart - 'Ring of Fire' Eclipse to Stress Power Grids from California to Texas

Author Jason Lindquist

The uncertainties around solar power are well understood. When the sun doesn’t shine as much as expected, power grids that rely heavily on solar must turn elsewhere to meet consumer demand. And while a shortfall in solar generation can be tricky to navigate, the difference between actual and forecast levels is typically only a few percentage points, and power grids are usually ready and able to make up any difference. But what happens when the daytime sun is obscured for hours at a time? Much of the U.S. is about to find out. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll preview the path of the October 14 solar eclipse, detail its expected impact on the generation of electricity, and describe what steps are being taken to keep power grids performing as usual.

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