On March 29, another partial solar eclipse will affect all of Europe. In Denmark, this downright spectacular annular solar eclipse will result in a shading effect of around 23 percent, while in Austria, it will only be around seven percent on average. For electricity generation, the sun's occultation means less power from photovoltaic (PV) systems.
Power supply secured in Austria
Due to the insignificant shading, the solar eclipse will only have a minor impact on Austria's total electricity generation and thus doesn’t jeopardize the security of the domestic electricity supply. Austria will temporarily lose around 300 megawatts (MW) of power due to the solar eclipse when the moon covers the sun for only a short time, approximately between 11:30 and 12:55 (CET), which means that there will be less sunlight available. This is roughly equivalent to the output of a larger power plant on the Danube.
Close coordination between European transmission system operators as a safety net
The short-term power shortfall can easily be compensated for because it is similar to the fluctuations in the grid that occur all the time. According to the forecasts, the maximum power reduction with an average shading effect of around ten percent in the entire continental European ENTSO-E synchronous area will be around 21 GW in the worst case. This is roughly twice the peak load of Austria or around five percent of the peak load of the entire synchronous area (450 GW). This is an amount that can be easily managed with forward-looking planning and close international coordination - especially as such events are preceded by months of analysis that help to deduce appropriate grid operation measures (e.g., short-term increase in control reserves)
PV share to increase annually from two to 11 TWh by 2030
By 2030, 100% of Austria's electricity demand (on balance) is to be covered by sustainable energy. With the transformation of the energy system and, in particular, the increase in PV systems, a solar eclipse will thus have a greater impact on the APG grid in the future. To prepare for these challenges, APG is implementing numerous new line and substation projects as well as expansion and reinforcement measures in the coming years and developing innovative solutions in the fields of digitalization and technology. The APG Future Grid Tracker shows the progress of these projects.
About Austrian Power Grid (APG)
As independent transmission system operator, Austrian Power Grid (APG) is in charge of ensuring the security of the electricity supply in Austria. With our high-performance and digital electricity infrastructure and the use of state-of-the-art technologies we integrate renewable energies and reduce the dependency on electricity imports, we are the platform for the electricity market, and we provide access to reasonably priced electricity and thus create the basis for Austria as supply-secure and future-oriented industrial and business location and place to live. The APG grid totals a length of about 3,500 km and is operated, maintained, and continuously adapted to the increasing challenges of the electrification of businesses, industry, and society by a team of approximately 1,000 specialists. 67 substations are distributed all over Austria, and the majority is operated remotely. Thanks to our committed employees, Austria had a security of supply of 99.99 percent also in 2024 and thus ranks among the top countries worldwide. Our investments of 640 million euros in 2025 (2024: 440 million euros, 2023: 490 million euros) are a motor for the Austrian economy and a crucial factor for achieving Austria’s energy targets. Overall, APG will invest around 9 billion euros in grid expansion and modernization measures.