NERC finds August solar eclipse not likely to affect bulk power system
The August 21 solar eclipse predicted by NASA is not expected to affect the bulk power system,
according to a white paper released this week by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC).
The paper, A Wide-Area Perspective on the August 21, 2017 Total Solar Eclipse, does suggest increased coordination between system planners and operators on the management of solar and other distributed energy resources. The eclipse will have the greatest impact on solar resources, but lower temperatures resulting from the eclipse may slow winds leading to a slight dip in electricity generation from wind.
It also advises that utilities in all states perform detailed analyses of the potential impacts of the eclipse on their specific systems and prepare resources to handle the increased and varying load resulting from the
loss of solar generation.
The NERC paper found that California and North Carolina will experience the greatest impact to their energy systems and photovoltaic resources.
