UK households are being urged to avoid using electricity between 6pm and 8pm on Wednesday during the solar eclipse, which will significantly reduce solar power generation.
Octopus Energy's plea
Britain's largest energy supplier, Octopus Energy, is asking customers to postpone using appliances like washing machines and dishwashers during those hours, as the moon is expected to obscure up to 95% of sunlight.
The appeal comes as solar generation is set to nosedive at a time when it typically surges after work hours.
Impact on the grid
According to the National Energy System Operator (Neso), the eclipse could eliminate as much as 1.3 gigawatts (GW) of supply, enough to power roughly half a million homes. To compensate, gas-fired power stations will be activated.
While power cuts are not anticipated, Octopus is encouraging customers to reduce energy consumption to minimise the need for gas power. Those who do will receive free electricity at a later date.
Flexible energy initiative
This is part of Octopus's drive to encourage households to shift when they use electricity. Their 'agile' tariff adjusts prices every half hour based on wholesale costs.
Kieron Stopforth, the company's head of flexibility, said half a million of Octopus's eight million customers already participate in the "demand-shifting" scheme. He stated: "We need to create the right price signals in the market that incentivise more flexible energy use."
However, these schemes have faced criticism for penalising households that cannot easily adjust consumption, such as those reliant on electronic medical devices. Claire Coutinho, shadow energy secretary, commented last year: "Our energy system should suit what people want to do, not the other way around."
Stopforth maintained participation is optional, adding: "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 will see most of the sun obscured by the moon, making it the largest visible from Britain since 1999. Over 90% of the sun will be blocked between 6.17pm and 8.06pm on August 12.
The Met Office said the prime locations to witness the event are Devon, Cornwall, and west Pembrokeshire. These areas' energy systems will be most affected, with solar farms there expected to see the greatest reductions in output.
Neso has stated the impact on the electricity system will be manageable. The grid has been preparing for about a year, with generators instructed to have sufficient capacity for the anticipated shortfalls.
