Britain's electricity grid operator, the National Energy System Operator (Neso), has issued a request to energy providers to generate more power during the evening's solar eclipse as a precautionary measure. The operator is seeking to ensure a "greater safety cushion" between electricity demand and supply during the period between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. This "electricity margin notice" is a routine tool used to signal a desire for increased capacity in the grid should it be necessary.
Neso stated that the notice does not indicate that blackouts are imminent or that there is insufficient generation to meet demand. A Neso spokesman clarified that the request is for market participants to make any additional generation capacity they may have available and that there is no risk to customer electricity supplies.
The eclipse is expected to reduce solar power generation by as much as 1.3 gigawatts, a figure Neso indicated is enough to power at least 500,000 homes. This reduction coincides with a period of rising electricity demand as people return home from work.
In response to the anticipated drop in solar power, Octopus Energy, a major UK energy firm, advised its 8 million customers to avoid using high-consumption appliances such as washing machines, ovens, and dishwashers between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. The company warned that the eclipse could "briefly knock out a chunk of Britain's solar power," potentially necessitating increased reliance on fossil fuel power generation. Octopus suggested that if enough households delay their electricity usage, this need for additional fossil fuel generation would be reduced.
The solar eclipse, occurring between 6:17 p.m. and 8:06 p.m., will see the moon obscure over 90 percent of the sun, marking the most significant blockage over the UK since the 1999 total solar eclipse. Historic images show public viewing of previous eclipses in Edinburgh and Stoneyhurst, Lancashire, as well as the front page of the Daily Mail from August 12, 1999.
This event occurs amidst broader discussions about the UK's energy grid stability. Recent changes by the National Grid to lower minimum inertia thresholds, aimed at saving consumers money and meeting government green targets, have drawn criticism. Some electricity firms and a whistleblower have raised concerns that these changes could increase the risk of blackouts. Neso is set to operate the grid with reduced levels of 'inertia,' a measure of stored kinetic energy in power plant generators that can help stabilize the grid during failures. This change is projected to save consumers £96 million annually.