There’s no doubt about it: The pending total solar eclipse on April 8 is a big deal. From searching online for eclipse glasses to traveling across state lines to be in a more direct path for a four-minute watch party, media stories about last-minute strategies to see the eclipse are everywhere.
Kramer at one of OUC’s solar farms. Currently, OUC harnesses a total of 124 megawatts of solar generation.
While Florida isn’t in the path of totality for this astronomical occasion, OUC anticipates an impact to solar energy – albeit a minor one. “Even though the eclipse is not directly over Orlando, we’ll still see at least a 50% drop in solar production,” said Justin Kramer, Director of Emerging Technologies and Data Analytics. “But eclipses, unlike clouds, are very predictable, which means we can plan ahead to ensure our customers are not impacted.”
Eclipses are rare, but fluctuations in solar production are common. In the Sunshine State, most solar panels only run at full capacity for about 5 or 6 hours a day on average. The arrival of clouds, rainstorms or shifting shadows throughout the day can cause generation to decline by 70% in a matter of minutes.
This means that energy storage systems like batteries will serve as important backups to prevent interruptions in electric service as Florida moves toward a decarbonized, and ultimately decentralized, grid.
As OUC continues progress toward its goal of achieving Net Zero CO2 emissions by 2050, solar is poised to eclipse traditional forms of energy generation in the not-so-distant future – and one big milestone in that journey is coming up later this year.
In December 2024, the utility will open two new 74.5 MW solar farms: Harmony II and Storey Bend. With 300,000 panels apiece, these farms will double OUC’s current solar capacity, boosting it to No. 3 among Florida utilities in solar watts per customer, based on the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy’s 2020 rankings.
There’s still a long road ahead before the Sunshine State becomes fully solar-powered, but the upcoming eclipse illustrates just how far we’ve already come. For Floridians, it’ll be a sky-gazing event to remember – and for OUC, it’s a symbol of the emerging technologies that are bringing our community ever closer to a brighter, more sustainable future.
