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Posted 1 year ago | 2 minute read
ERCOT working to avoid disruption of solar eclipse 2024
On April 8, 2024, an annular solar eclipse will cross over the United States, over the course of about an hour, viewers in 15 states across the United States will experience up to four and half minutes of darkness. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has predicted the eclipse will reduce solar generation’s maximum output to less than 10% of what it would be capable of if the sky was clear.
The April 8 eclipse will start on Mexico’s Pacific coast at around 11:07 a.m. PDT. It will then travel across parts of the US and into Canada and will leave continental North America at 5:19 p.m. EDT. All areas in the path of totality of the April eclipse could see their solar power affected. Texas, however, is expected to see the biggest impact.
Solar power accounts for about 3.9% of the energy generated in the US in 2023, according to the US Energy Information Administration. In Texas, solar energy accounted for 6% of the energy generation in 2022.
The total solar eclipse will pass over parts of Texas from the southwest to northeast between approximately 12:10 p.m. and 3:10 p.m. CDT. According to ERCOT, power will not be disrupted, but ERCOT said it will keep the public informed and will be sending out notices before the solar eclipse giving updates on the grid’s condition.
GridBeyond Chief Product Officer and President North America Sean McEvoy said:
“As we continue adding solar energy to the grid in an effort to decarbonize the power sector it is essential that we strengthen resilience through technologies and programs that help maintain power during disruptions like eclipses. For example, co-locating solar-plus-storage technologies will enable more people to benefit from solar energy, even when the sun isn’t shining—even if just for a moment during an eclipse.
Microgrids also have the potential to operate autonomously from the main grid during face of service interruptions, which can also be applied to respond to eclipse conditions. But most importantly it is critical that grid operators and market participants use advanced forecasting to ensure they are prepared to minimize disruptions to their power supply.”
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