Irish solar owners urged to become ‘citizen scientists’ during solar eclipse

Solar Ireland is inviting homeowners and businesses across the country to become ‘citizen scientists’ during Wednesday’s solar eclipse, by watching the impact of the event unfold through their own solar panels.

Ireland’s solar eclipse

The partial solar eclipse on Wednesday, 12 August, will begin shortly after 6pm, peaking an hour later, before ending after 8pm. More than 90% of the Sun will be blocked across Ireland at its height, reaching up to 98% in parts of the west and south, with the exact level varying by location. It’s set to be one of the most significant solar eclipses visible from Ireland in decades and the last of this magnitude visible from Ireland until 2090.

Many modern solar installations allow homeowners and businesses to monitor electricity production through smartphone apps. As the Moon moves across the Sun, users should be able to watch their solar output fall and then recover as the eclipse passes.

Solar Ireland is encouraging households, businesses and community groups with solar panels to monitor their systems before, during and after the eclipse and share screenshots of their generation curves on social media, tagging Solar Ireland and including their location.

Ronan Power, CEO of Solar Ireland says, “Most people will be looking up at the sky on Wednesday, but Ireland’s solar owners can look at their phones too. For a couple of hours, people right across the country will be able to watch the same extraordinary event play out on the solar panels on their homes, farms and businesses. You should actually be able to see the eclipse in your generation curve as output dips and then climbs again.

“We’d love people to share what they see with us. Tell us where you are, show us your solar curve and let’s see what the eclipse looks like through Ireland’s solar generation. There is something quite special about thousands of people being able to experience the same event through the electricity being generated on their own roof. It’s also a reminder of just how far solar has come in Ireland. Solar is now part of everyday life, generating electricity on homes, schools, farms and businesses across the country.”

Solar Ireland also hopes to examine the wider impact of the eclipse on solar generation following the event, including the temporary reduction in output as the Moon passes across the Sun.

Unlike changing cloud cover, a solar eclipse can be predicted with extraordinary accuracy, meaning electricity system operators can prepare well in advance for the temporary reduction in solar generation. Solar panels themselves require no special preparation and will continue operating normally throughout the event.

Domestic solar owners do not need to take any action. Those with monitoring apps may simply notice their generation decline as the eclipse progresses before returning towards normal levels afterwards.

Solar Ireland is reminding anyone planning to watch the eclipse to never look directly at the Sun without certified eclipse glasses.

Share your solar eclipse

Solar owners can join in by:

• Taking a screenshot of their solar generation before, during or after the eclipse
• Sharing it on social media and tagging Solar Ireland
• Including their county or location
• Comparing their solar curve with others around Ireland

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