Will The Solar Eclipse Affect My Solar Power?

In case you've been living in the dark. there's a solar eclipse happening on Aug. 21. Depending on where you are in its path, you'll get to see what it looks like when the moon covers the sun. This is expected to produce some awe-inspiring sights in the sky, but it also has some solar energy users wondering how their power may be affected.

There is less sunlight being emitted when the moon eclipses the sun, and some solar energy systems across the country will be affected by Monday's big event, but homes will not.

It's All About Location

In order for the sun to be completely blocked by moon, you have to be located within the solar eclipse's path of totality. Locations along this path — which stretches from Lincoln Beach, Oregon, to Charleston, South Carolina — will experience a period of up to two minutes and 40 seconds when no light from the sun is emitted.

This path of totality is relatively thin; according to NASA, it's a cross-country ribbon that's only about 70 miles wide. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that there are only 17 utility-scale solar PV (photovoltaic) generators affected by the path of totality, most of them in eastern Oregon. There's relatively little solar capacity within this path of totality, too, so making up for a little lapse in its production isn't going to require that much in terms of utilizing alternative energy.

What About the Places Outside the Path of Totality?

Everyone in the contiguous United States will see at least a partial solar eclipse, which means solar PV plants located outside the path of totality will still experience varying degrees of less sunlight as the moon blocks its path. According to the EIA, this eclipse will obscure the sunlight needed to generate electricity at approximately 1,900 utility-scale solar PV plants.

During this lapse in light, those solar generators affected may need to increase their output from other sources of electricity to make up for the temporary dip in solar power. Not to worry, though: According to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), this eclipse is unlikely to cause any reliability issues to the North American bulk power system. In other words, the power grids are prepared to handle this.

What About California?

The Golden State is also green, and California leads the nation in solar by a lot. According to the Solar Energy Industry Association, an estimated 4,732,000 homes in the state had installed solar power as of 2016, and that number continues to grow. The California Energy Commission estimates that 10.03 percent of the state's total electricity last year was produced by solar PV and solar thermal power plants.

Because California is not within the path of totality, residents will not see a total solar eclipse. That said, the California Independent System Operator reports that Northern California will see a 76 percent eclipse and Southern California will see a 58 percent eclipse. This will reduce the amount of solar energy produced and is expected to cause a loss of 4,194 MW (megawatts). During this window (which stretches from 9:02 a.m. to 11:52 a.m.), solar users will need to fill the gap with non-solar energy resources.

What Does This Mean?

Residents and business owners can make things easier on their states' electric grids by reducing their energy consumption during the solar eclipse. The California Public Utilities Commission has assured folks that while they do have all the utilities necessary to manage the power grid during the eclipse, it would be ideal if Californians would reduce electricity usage so the state could burn fewer fossil fuels and have fewer greenhouse gas emissions when solar energy production is temporarily stalled. Relying less on these old-school sources of power isn't just good for the planet — it's good for the people, too.

Why Go Solar?

If you haven't already made the switch the renewable energy, it's definitely something to look into. Solar power is more affordable than ever these days, and you'll start saving on your monthly energy bills from the get-go. The federal government provides financial incentives for switching to solar, and certain states provide additional credits or rebates as well. Installing a solar panel system can even increase the long-term resale value of your home.

What are you waiting for? Find out how much you could be saving with a free personalized quote from Horizon Solar Power, southern California’s local leader in solar power energy.

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First Photo Credit: Nakae via flickr