Dozens of people will look up at the sky to witness one of the most anticipated astronomical events of 2026: a total solar eclipse. Several cities in Spain, France, and the United Kingdom—where the astronomical phenomenon will be visible during the European sunset—rely on solar energy as one of their renewable energy sources. Does that mean that when the Moon temporarily blocks the Sun, solar power will stop working? Spoiler: no.
Eclipses are astronomical phenomena that, thanks to science, can be predicted, and for which preventive measures can be taken. During a solar eclipse, solar radiation decreases; therefore, solar panels on homes, buildings, and in public spaces will generate less electricity.
An animated visualization of the August 12, 2026, total solar eclipse. The eclipse will be partial in the Northeast of United States and parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Upper Midwest and is not visible elsewhere in the country. Video: NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio
The details of this impact
The U.S. Energy Information Administration explains that solar panels generate electricity from the Sun’s radiation. During the eclipse, as the Moon covers the Sun’s disk, the intensity of that radiation will decrease and electricity generation will gradually drop.
Once the eclipse ends, production will recover quickly. The extent of the impact and the reduction in electricity generation will depend on several factors specific to each eclipse. Some of these include geographic location, cloud cover, and the percentage of the Sun that is obscured.
The decrease in electricity generation will not affect the operation or lifespan of the panels. The greatest challenge will fall on electricity grid operators, who must maintain a balance between the energy produced and the energy consumed by households, businesses, and industries.
To do so, they rely on accurate forecasts and schedule backup in advance from other generation sources, such as hydroelectric plants, wind farms, or battery storage systems.
The example of the solar eclipse in Buenos Aires
At noon on December 14, 2020, a partial solar eclipse occurred that was visible from the City of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Diego Musolino, an engineer and director of the Energizar Foundation, documented at the time how the solar eclipse affected solar power generation at one of his clients’ facilities. He shared the illustrative graphs with Huella Zero.
The images show a change: electricity generation dropped from 2,289 watts to 576 watts during the hour and a half that the astronomical phenomenon lasted. This represented a 75% decrease in power generation from the panels. Then, once the eclipse ended, normal levels of generation and supply were quickly restored.
The solar eclipse on Wednesday, August 12, can be watched live on NASA’s YouTube channel. Additionally, on the night of August 27–28 (South American time), another eclipse—this time a partial lunar eclipse—will occur and will be visible across much of North and South America.
