City Hall Solar Panels Record Solar Eclipse
On April 8, people gathered throughout the City to witness the wonder of the eclipse. This historic event was also witnessed—and recorded—by the solar array on the roof of South Burlington City Hall.
This graph shows the solar power generated on the day of the eclipse in 15-minute increments, and the effect of the eclipse itself is easy to spot!
In the morning, the line rises smoothly until it reaches a peak around 11:30 a.m. After noon, there are peaks and valleys, reflecting scattered light clouds that began to appear. Around 2:30 p.m., the level of solar energy generated steadily begins to fall. Following totality (about 3:26–3:30 p.m.), the solar output steadily increases until the end of the eclipse at about 4:30 p.m.
The smooth green line illustrates an approximation of solar energy generation on a normal day with no clouds.
Photo Credit: Paul Charbonneau
April 9, 2024