Europe Prepares for Solar Eclipse
The total solar eclipse on August 12 will be visible in Spain, while in Croatia the Moon will cover more than 90 percent of the Sun's diameter. The European Commission does not expect major issues with power supply.
The total solar eclipse on August 12 will be visible in Spain, while in Croatia the Moon will cover more than 90 percent of the Sun's diameter. The European Commission does not expect major issues with power supply.
Power grid operators across the European Union are on high alert ahead of the total solar eclipse that will cast a shadow over a large part of the continent on August 12, 2026. European Commission spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen confirmed on Thursday that systems are preparing for the potential impact on electricity generation and consumption, particularly in Spain, where the eclipse will be total.
Despite the preparations, Brussels says there is no cause for alarm. "Given that it will take place during the afternoon, it is not expected to have a huge impact," Itkonen said. The focus is on grid stability at a time when solar panels, which make up an increasing share of Europe's energy mix, are temporarily deprived of direct sunlight.
The total solar eclipse will be visible over eastern Greenland, western Iceland, and parts of Spain, including the Balearic Islands and the western Mediterranean. The cosmic event will be partially visible to people across Europe and from parts of North Africa, reaching as far as Ukraine and Morocco.
In countries such as Ireland, the UK, France, Portugal, Italy, Switzerland, and Algeria, about 90 percent of the Sun's disk will be covered by the Moon. The eclipse will begin in Scandinavia and Greenland on August 12 at around 5 p.m. GMT, reaching its peak as it moves across Europe, between 6:15 and 6:45 p.m.
Although the total eclipse will not be visible from Croatia, the sight will still be remarkably impressive. In the western parts of the country, the Moon will cover more than 90 percent of the Sun's diameter. Further east, the eclipse will be in a slightly lesser phase, but it will still draw the attention of many observers and astronomy enthusiasts.
