Britain’s electricity grid operator is expected to spend millions on short-notice backup power supplies ahead of a near-total solar eclipse expected to occur on Wednesday. The eclipse, which is forecast to block up to 95% of the sun over parts of the country, will represent the most dramatic such event visible in Great Britain since 1999.
The loss of solar power generation during the eclipse, combined with heightened electricity demand from a concurrent heatwave, has prompted grid concerns about potential supply shortfalls. The National Energy System Operator initially identified a projected shortfall exceeding 1,700 megawatts but revised that estimate downward to approximately 1,200 megawatts in a subsequent market notice issued on Wednesday morning. The grid operator later cancelled the official alarm while confirming that adequate measures had been implemented to address supply concerns.
Gas-fired power plants are among the key sources being leveraged to fill the anticipated gap, with generators securing payments substantially above standard market rates. One facility agreed to supply electricity at £875 per megawatt-hour, compared with prevailing market prices near £212 per megawatt-hour. The grid operator has also arranged significant imports of electricity through undersea cables connecting Britain to continental Europe.
This marks the first instance of summer supply warnings being issued due to recurring heatwaves, according to energy analysts. The broader European electricity market faces additional pressures from elevated temperatures affecting cooling systems for nuclear reactors, reduced coal transportation capacity due to low water levels, and scheduled gas plant maintenance. These factors have contributed to rising gas prices across the continent.
In response to the anticipated supply constraints, Britain’s largest household electricity supplier has requested customers minimize usage of major appliances during peak evening hours on Wednesday.
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