Solar eclipse challenge to European power grid

The March 20 solar eclipse will test European electricity grids because of the massive increase in solar power production since 2005. Rapid swings in output could see production fall by as much as 30,000MW

Megawatts 0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 40,000

GER 36,013 ITA 17,614 ESP 4,705 FRA 4,637 BEL 2,983 GBR 2,585 CZE 2,132 ROM 1,022 BUL 1,019 AUT 690 NED 665 SVK 537 DEN 531 POR 281 SLO 254 LUX 100 LTU 68 SWE 43 CYP 34 MLT 24 CRO 24 HUN 15 FIN 11

Growth in EU photovoltaic use (peak megawatts) 

Friday, Mar 20

All times GMT

2005 2009 2013

Greatest total eclipse: 09:46:46 GMT Duration: 2 mins 47 secs Path width: 462.6km

100% 80% 60% 40% 20%

Biggest European eclipse since August 11, 1999

08:30 09:00 09:30 10:00 10:30 11:00

Nations generating less than 10MW by 2013: Poland, 4.2; Latvia, 1.5; Ireland, 1; Estonia, 0.2

Never look directly at solar eclipse with naked eye, binoculars, cameras or telescopes without specialised solar filters

Source: Wire agencies

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