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.
Figure 1. Types of Solar Eclipses. Source: American Astronomical Society
Before we get too far into any discussions about the eclipse’s impact on solar generation and the power grid, let’s get some basic definitions out of the way. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth, casting a shadow on the Earth that either fully or partially blocks the sun’s light in some areas. During an annular solar eclipse (far right in Figure 1 above), like the one coming shortly, the moon is not big enough to cover the entire sun. This happens when the moon is farthest away from the Earth. The sun’s outer edge remains visible and forms a “ring of fire” in the sky, although most of the sunlight will be blocked in the eclipse’s path. During a total solar eclipse (far left), the moon completely covers the sun. This takes place when the moon’s orbit is closest to the Earth. A total solar eclipse is only visible if you are in the path where the moon casts its darkest shadow. A partial solar eclipse (middle) occurs when the moon obscures a portion of the sun. (There is also a hybrid solar eclipse, which occurs when the same eclipse changes from annular to total — or the reverse — along its path. It’s the rarest type of eclipse.)
Figure 2. Path of October 2023 and April 2024 Solar Eclipses. Source: RBN
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About the song
“Total Eclipse of the Heart” was written by Jim Steinman and appears as the fourth song on Bonnie Tyler’s fifth studio album, Faster Than the Speed of Night. Songwriter Steinman (who also produced the album) was famous for writing all of the songs on Meat Loaf’s 1977 debut hit album, Bat Out of Hell. He is known for writing songs that are epic tales, usually involving unique twists in the narrative, and reflective of Steinman's fascination for Phil Spector’s “wall of sound” production techniques. The song was reduced from its seven-minute album length to four minutes and 30 seconds for the single version. Released as a single in the U.S. in June 1983, it went to #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart and has been certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Personnel on the record were: Bonnie Tyler (lead vocals), Larry Fast, Steve Margoshes (synthesizers), Roy Bittan (piano), Rick Derringer (guitar), Steve Buslowe (bass), Max Weinburg (drums), Jimmy Maelen (percussion), and Rory Dodd, Eric Troyer, Holly Sherwood (backing vocals).
Faster Than the Speed of Night was recorded in 1982 at The Power Station and Right Track Studios in New York City with Jim Steinman and John Jansen producing. The album includes five radically re-worked cover songs by John Fogerty, Blue Oyster Cult, Bryan Adams, Frankie Miller, and Lee Kasmin. The album was released in September 1983 and went to #4 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart. It has been certified Platinum by the RIAA. Eight singles were released from the LP.
Bonnie Tyler (Gaynor Sullivan) is a Welsh singer known for her gruff whiskey voice. She has been compared to Rod Stewart in her vocal timbre. In 1975, she was discovered singing in a club in the Welsh city of Swansea by talent scout Roger Bell, who was able to secure her a deal with RCA Records. Her first big hit in the U.S. was “It’s a Heartache,” which went to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart in 1978. She has released 18 studio albums, two live albums, 64 compilation albums, four EPs, and 83 singles. She was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2022. Her memoir, Straight from the Heart, was released in September 2023. She continues to record and started a European tour in early October.
