REN says it has been in contact with other European electricity transmission network operators in order to prepare the National Electricity System (SEN) for the effects of the solar eclipse, which will have a 100% obscuration in parts of the country.

The phenomenon is expected to be most pronounced in the North of the country and will occur between 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm on 12 August. It is estimated that the solar eclipse could cause an energy loss of 450 megawatts, or 7% of consumption and 45% of solar production by the SEN, projected for that time. Thus, the eclipse is expected to have an impact of about 15%.

Reserves

During the two hours of the eclipse, a loss of 35 MW per minute is expected, and to mitigate the impacts of the energy generation loss, REN states in a press release that "it will be necessary to mobilise additional reserves with hydroelectric and/or thermal generation."

The effects of the eclipse will have a smaller impact given the time it occurs, as solar production will already be declining at that time. However, the main effect will be a more pronounced reduction in normal solar energy production, which is compounded by the fact that the time is also considered peak consumption time, as it is at the end of the day, when people return home from work.

These figures refer only to centralised solar production, excluding any other solar production associated with Self-Consumption Production Units. REN says that, even so, "they will also have an effect on increasing consumption."