Solar Power Generation Plunges during Eclipse

India’s solar power generation plunged about a third during the solar eclipse on Sunday. The eclipse this year also comes against the backdrop of the lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus, which has led to a drastic fall in pollution and has improved solar radiation. Power grid operators, however, handled the sharp drop and surge in generation during the celestial event, underscoring the country’s ability to manage its growing green energy generation and the impact on the national grid. The successful management of the grid adds heft to India’s ambitious global electricity grid strategy, with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government calling for bids to roll out the “One Sun One World One Grid" plan. The plan is spread across three phases. The first phase deals with the Middle East, South Asia-South East Asia interconnection for sharing green energy sources such as solar for meeting electricity needs, including peak demand. This comes against the backdrop of the US withdrawal from the Paris climate deal and China’s attempts to co-opt countries into its ambitious One Belt One Road initiative.