Rosie Shead

Octopus Energy has urged customers to reduce electricity use between 6pm and 8pm during the UK’s largest solar eclipse in 30 years, warning that solar generation could plummet while evening demand rises. The company says coordinated reductions could ease pressure on the grid and reduce reliance on expensive, high-emission fossil-fuel power stations. Customers who cut their usage for at least 30 minutes may receive a free hour of electricity on Sunday. The warning follows record sunshine in July, when solar power supplied 14.4% of the UK’s electricity and reached a peak of 44% of generation.