Total solar eclipse on August 12 will test Europe's power grid and Spain's hotel prices

The eclipse and its path

The total solar eclipse of Wednesday, August 12, will be the most significant visible in France since 1999. The moon will fully obscure the sun in northern Spain, while French regions will see up to 99% obscuration. The phenomenon will occur between 19:30 and 21:30, making it visible during early evening. The French Astronomy Association has organized the Nuits des étoiles on August 7, 8, and 9, as well as the evening of August 12, offering public sky observations and shooting-star viewing across hundreds of astronomy clubs. French media have described the event as the most beautiful sunset of the century.

Impact on electricity production

RTE, France's high-voltage grid operator, anticipates a rapid but temporary drop in photovoltaic output during the eclipse. European solar production could fall by nearly 9,700 MW, equivalent to 3.7% of installed EU solar capacity. In France, the power injected into the grid could decrease by approximately 1,800 MW under clear skies, representing about 3% of national electricity production. RTE notes that during a partial eclipse on March 20, 2015, French photovoltaic production dropped by about 2,000 MW while Europe recorded a 35 GW decline. The grid operator states that the system was managed without difficulty in real time thanks to careful preparation and European coordination. France's installed photovoltaic capacity now exceeds 30 GW, compared with just 1 GW globally at the time of the 1999 eclipse.

Tourism and hotel prices in Spain

Rural northern Spain, part of the so-called empty Spain with population density barely above that of Lapland, will sit in the totality zone and is attracting large numbers of visitors eager to witness the phenomenon. Accommodation prices have surged, with social media users sharing screenshots of booking sites showing rooms approaching €3,000 in the totality zone. Posts on X have described the hotel prices as indecent.

Eye safety and protective-glass shortages

The Direction générale de la santé (DGS) has warned that stock shortages of protective glasses are likely, noting that previous eclipses in 1999 and 2016 saw supply ruptures due to lack of anticipation. Glasses certified to European standards and ISO norms are sold at opticians, pharmacies, and newsstands for an average of €3 to €6 per pair. Some retailers are already out of stock a week before the event. Isabelle, an optician at Optical Center in Chantepie (Ille-et-Vilaine), reported that her 50 pairs sold out within a week. Pharmacist Elsa Sebbane at Pharmacie Rémusat in Paris sold about 50 pairs between mid-July and early August.

Without proper protection, observing the eclipse can cause severe and irreversible eye damage. Dr. Patrick Simon Laneuville, an ophthalmologist in Orsay, warned that the cornea can be entirely spotted by burns and the retina can suffer lesions that initially feel painless but later cause significant burns, red eyes, and inability to sleep.