Hello there, fellow solar enthusiasts! I am here to shed some light on an event of cosmic proportions and its impact on our beloved solar energy industry. Yes, I’m talking about the approaching solar eclipse of 2024, and how it will touch our lives – and solar arrays!
The 2024 solar eclipse is unique because it will cast a shadow, complete darkness in fact, across twelve American states in a diagonal pathway from Texas to Maine. While this spectacle will certainly make for a breathtaking sight, it raises a notable question for those of us invested in solar: “How will this affect solar production?”
Well, dear readers, let me break it down for you. The last time we experienced a solar eclipse was back in 2017. Since then, the solar landscape has evolved significantly. In fact, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that the total installed solar capacity has grown threefold in the last seven years, putting a whopping 6.5 GW of solar capacity right in the path of the 2024 eclipse’s totality. To give you an idea, on an average sunny day, photovoltaic solar energy generation covers about 30% of the electricity consumption in Texas itself. So, it’s safe to say solar companies have been quite busy!
That being said, during the 2017 eclipse, solar energy production showed very little disturbance to the electrical grid. However, in 2024 it’s going to be a different story as solar is projected to provide 6% of U.S. electricity generation this year, a substantial leap from its contribution of 1.3% back in 2017. This definitely flags some concern about the eclipse’s effect on solar energy generation.
Now, let’s talk details, predicted percentages of power reduction during the eclipse in the three major interconnection regions are as follows:
1. East – 71%
2. West – 45%
3. Texas – 93%
Although Texas will see the highest overall reduction, it’s the Eastern region that presents significant concern due to the sheer number of power plants on its grid that rely on solar. But don’t worry, experts have this under their radar and are doing some in-depth analysis to better prepare for this situation.
The 2024 solar eclipse, while exciting for the stargazers amongst us, brings its own set of challenges for those managing the power grid. This is because for several regions, the sun will be partially or entirely covered for up to 3.5 hours, and in some places total darkness will last for almost 4 minutes! For context, imagine the issues that arise during blackouts and multiply them. It becomes paramount, then, to ensure that the energy systems are diversified enough to prevent any potential power outage.
To overcome this, the load will be primarily rebalanced by pumped hydropower storage (42%) and hydropower (24%), along with gas (30%), and a combination of oil-gas-steam (2%), and steam (2%). Battery storage too will come into action, deriving stored solar and wind energy and discharging it when required.
Solar panels for your home or a solar array for home use will likely experience a temporary reduction in output during the duration of the eclipse. Expanding from small-scale home settings to larger utility-scale grids – it’s crucial that energy generation and distribution companies are prepared for this skyward event to ensure a smooth energy supply to their customers.
Ultimately, despite the temporary disruption caused by the eclipse, this celestial event helps highlight the impressive growth and importance of solar in our energy landscape. If anything, it emphasises the need for continued innovation in energy storage solutions and the importance of diverse energy sources to meet any unforeseen circumstances.
As always, stay tuned for more updates on this astronomical event and its impact on the solar energy sector!
Original Articlehttps://pv-magazine-usa.com/2024/04/08/livestream-shows-how-eclipse-impacts-solar-power-production-across-the-u-s/
