The next August 12, the electricity supply in Spain should not experience significant variations due to the total solar eclipse that will cover part of thirteen autonomous communities.
“We are talking about a minimum duration of the eclipse. It should have no impact on electricity production,” explained the astronomer from the European Space Agency, Pedro García Lario, in an informational meeting with the media.
The expert has specified, however, that some automatic lighting systems could activate during the minutes of darkness. “It is possible that they will activate during the minutes of the eclipse's duration,” he pointed out, although he defined it as something “simply anecdotal and curious.”
A total eclipse in Spain for the first time since 1912
The August 12, 2026 will see a total solar eclipse in Spain that will cross the Peninsula from Galicia to Balearic Islands. A phenomenon of this nature has not occurred totally in the country since 1912.
In light of such an exceptional event, some people may wonder if the temporary disappearance of sunlight could generate problems in the Spanish energy system. From Endesa, however, they dismiss that scenario: “Nothing could be further from reality,” they state.
Solar production will decrease, but temporarily
During the eclipse, photovoltaic production will temporarily decrease due to the obscuration of the Sun. The key is that this drop will be brief and will occur during a time frame in which solar generation will already be naturally declining.
The eclipse will occur during the sunset, approximately between 7:30 PM and 9:30 PM, although the moment of totality will last only a few seconds or, in some areas, a few minutes. This reduces the impact compared to what would happen if the phenomenon occurred during the central hours of the day, when photovoltaic production reaches much higher values.
How much solar energy does Spain generate in August
Spain is one of the European countries with the highest photovoltaic production due to its geographical situation and high solar irradiation. According to data from Red Eléctrica, August 2025 was one of the best months of the year for solar energy, with 5,822 GWh and a contribution of 24.8% to the electricity mix, only behind June and July.
On a typical August sunset, photovoltaic generation can still be relevant, but it quickly drops to zero shortly after, especially after sunset. That is why the eclipse on August 12 will have a limited effect: it will coincide with solar production already in a descending phase.
The precedent of the European eclipse of 2015
The closest precedent is the partial eclipse of March 20, 2015, which affected a large part of Europe, including the Iberian Peninsula, between 09:00 and 12:00 hours.
During that episode, European photovoltaic generation fell by around 35,000 MW, a volume equivalent to dozens of conventional power plants. Endesa recalls that this behavior required a coordinated response to maintain the balance between supply and demand in a highly interconnected electrical system.
European transmission system operators, coordinated through ENTSO-E, successfully managed the event thanks to prior planning and cross-border cooperation. This precedent is considered a test of the European electrical system's ability to absorb sharp variations in renewable generation.
Red Eléctrica, the “control tower” of the system
Red Eléctrica acts as the “control tower” of the Spanish electrical system. Its function is to ensure at all times the balance between generation and consumption, anticipating possible production variations through forecasting models.
To do this, it uses algorithms that take into account meteorological, economic, and labor variables. This planning allows for anticipating a sudden drop in solar generation and activating the necessary mechanisms to compensate for it without the user noticing changes in supply.
The role of international interconnections
Interconnections with other countries are also important to reinforce the security of the system. Spain is connected with networks such as the French and Portuguese, allowing for electricity exchanges in case of need.
If an unexpected loss of generation were to occur, those interconnections could help cover part of the demand. This is complemented by the constant monitoring of the Electric Control Center, Cecoel, which supervises the system 24 hours a day and in real time.
What happens if you have solar panels at home
For those who have solar panels at home, the eclipse can indeed be noticeable in their own production. In the totality band, generation can drop to zero for one or two minutes.
Endesa explains that if the installation has a battery and it has been charged during the morning, the user should not notice any impact. If there is no battery, consumption will be taken from the grid during that period, similar to what happens at night.
It should not be noticeable in homes
Endesa's conclusion is that the solar eclipse does not have to affect the electricity supply of homes. Both in the totality band and outside of it, there should be no change in the current.
The phenomenon will be exceptional from an astronomical point of view, but it should not become an energy problem. The drop in solar production will be brief, will be anticipated, and will coincide with a time when the system is already accustomed to managing the natural decline of photovoltaic generation.