UK households have been advised to avoid using dishwashers and washing machines between 6pm and 8pm on Wednesday during this week's solar eclipse. Britain's biggest energy supplier, Octopus Energy, is asking customers to delay using these devices during the hours when the moon is expected to block up to 95 per cent of sunlight.
Potential power shortage
The call comes as the eclipse will see solar generation plunge in the moments it usually picks up post work. According to the National Energy System Operator (NESO), which runs Britain's electricity grid, the eclipse could knock out as much as 1.3 gigawatts (GW) of supply – enough energy to power roughly half a million homes.
To help cover some of the shortage, gas-fired power stations will be turned on. Although it is not believed that the eclipse will lead to power outages, Octopus has urged people to use less energy during these hours to help reduce the need for gas power.
Incentives for customers
If customers cut their energy use during this time frame, Octopus is offering free electricity at a later date. This is part of the energy company's push to urge households to change when they use electricity, with its 'agile' tariff changing electricity prices every half an hour in line with wholesale costs.
Kieron Stopforth, the company's head of flexibility, said that half a million of Octopus's eight million customers already take part in its so-called “demand-shifting” scheme. He said: “We need to create the right price signals in the market that incentivise more flexible energy use.”
Criticism and response
These programmes have been criticised as they are seen to punish households that cannot easily shift their consumption, such as those reliant on electronic medical devices, reports The Telegraph. Claire Coutinho, the shadow energy secretary, said last year: “Our energy system should suit what people want to do, not the other way around.”
Mr Stopforth insisted that participation remains voluntary. He added: “We’re not in a position where we’re going to be forcing customers to do something that they don’t want to do.”
Eclipse details
The rare partial solar eclipse this week will see most of the sun blocked out by the moon and is expected to be the largest visible from Britain since 1999. More than 90 per cent of the sun will be obscured by the moon between 6.17pm and 8.06pm on August 12.
The Met Office revealed the best places in the UK to see the cosmic phenomena were Devon, Cornwall and the west of Pembrokeshire. These areas' energy systems will be impacted the most, with solar farms in those locations expected to see the biggest reductions in output.
NESO has said that despite the historical scenes, the impact on the electricity system will be manageable. The grid has been planning for the event for roughly a year, with generators aware to have enough capacity to deal with the anticipated shortfalls.
