Solar eclipse may worsen electricity shortage in Europe

Next week's solar eclipse will increase the load on Europe's energy system, which is already experiencing shortages due to the heat and reduced output from nuclear power plants, coal and hydroelectric power plants. This was reported on August 8 by the Financial Times newspaper.

"The situation is quite difficult, and Europe does not seem to be ready for this," the article says.

On August 12, a total eclipse will take place over northern Spain and northeastern Portugal, and in some areas of Great Britain, France and northern Italy, the moon will cover more than 90% of the solar disk.

According to the Spanish operator Red Electrica, solar energy production in the country may decrease by a maximum of 5 GW. The French operator RTE and the European association ENTSO-E expect a reduction in generation in Europe by 9.7 GW during the maximum phase of the eclipse.

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At the end of June 2026, an abnormal heat wave swept Western European countries, primarily France and Spain, as well as Italy, Great Britain and Germany. Bloomberg reported on August 2 that Europe's heavy industry is suffering due to the drying up of the region's largest rivers amid the prolonged heat wave that has hit the continent. According to forecasts, no significant improvement in the situation with rivers in Europe is expected in the near future, the article says.

The French newspaper Le Monde reported on July 31 that a forest fire in the Gironde department had almost completely destroyed the coastal commune of Les Porges: 175 houses burned down as a result of the disaster, the flames devastated half of the 15,000 hectares of municipal territory.