英国最大家庭能源供应商章鱼能源公司（Octopus Energy）向数百万客户发出呼吁，要求他们在本周三日食期间减少用电[1]。月球将遮挡英国上空95%的太阳[1]，导致太阳能发电在下午6点至晚上8点期间大幅下滑[1]。日食期间，英国预计将损失700兆瓦至1.3吉瓦的太阳能发电能力[1]。
为应对电力供应压力，章鱼能源公司建议用户延迟使用洗衣机和洗碗机等高耗能电器[1]。该公司通过其奖励计划向参与的客户提供一小时免费电力作为回报[1]。通过这一举措，该公司希望避免启动燃气电站来补充电力缺口[1]。
日食对欧洲电力系统造成的影响更为广泛。欧洲电力系统运营方预计，日食将导致整个欧洲在下午7点15分至晚上9点30分期间损失9.7吉瓦的电力[1]。西班牙的太阳能发电可能减少5吉瓦[1]。当前欧洲正经历热浪，电力系统供应已处于紧张状态[1]。欧洲水电站储水位已达到30年最低水平[1]，英国在6月底还因电网频率下降至极限边缘被迫紧急进口电力[1]。
Britain's largest household energy supplier, Octopus Energy, is urging customers to cut electricity consumption on Wednesday evening during a solar eclipse that will block 95% of the sun over the UK [1]. The eclipse, occurring between 6pm and 8pm, is expected to halt solar power generation across the country, with projections indicating a loss of between 700 megawatts and 1.3 gigawatts of solar capacity [1].
The energy company is encouraging customers to delay using appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers during the event to help avoid the need to activate gas-fired power stations as backup supply [1]. As an incentive, Octopus Energy is offering one hour of free electricity to customers enrolled in its rewards program who participate in the effort [1]. The move comes as Europe's electricity system operators anticipate a total loss of 9.7 gigawatts of power across the continent between 7:15pm and 9:30pm during the eclipse, with Spain potentially experiencing a 5-gigawatt reduction in solar generation alone [1].
The timing of the eclipse presents particular challenges for Europe's energy infrastructure. The continent is currently experiencing a heat wave while contending with hydroelectric storage at its lowest level in 30 years, straining the existing power supply [1]. The situation has heightened concerns about grid stability, particularly after the UK was forced to make emergency electricity imports in late June when the grid frequency dropped to critical levels [1]. National energy system operator Neso stated that it has been planning for more than a year to manage the eclipse's impact on the electrical network [1].