Europe's power grids brace for strain during Wednesday's total solar eclipse

European grid operators warned that Wednesday evening's total solar eclipse could strain electricity networks as solar generation drops sharply across parts of the continent. Spain's grid operator Red Eléctrica said it expects solar output to fall by roughly 5 gigawatts during the event, while British estimates point to a decline of about 1.3 gigawatts. The eclipse comes as European energy systems are already under pressure from heat waves. Some nuclear and coal plants have reduced output, and lower water levels have weighed on hydroelectric generation, leaving operators with thinner reserves heading into the eclipse window. Grid operators in France and Spain said they are preparing to offset the potential shortfall with other sources to keep supply stable. The eclipse will be total in parts of Spain, Greenland and Iceland, with partial visibility across the Atlantic and northern Portugal. The peak of the eclipse is expected at 17:47 GMT, according to the source report. No further details on contingency measures were immediately available.