Pyranometer vs. Solar Radiation Sensor: What’s the Difference and How to Choose

When it comes to measuring solar radiation for meteorological, agricultural, or photovoltaic (PV) applications, two terms are commonly used — pyranometer and solar radiation sensor. While these terms are often used interchangeably, they are not always exactly the same. Understanding the difference between a pyranometer and a solar radiation sensor is crucial for selecting the right device for your needs.

What is Solar Radiation?

Solar radiation is the electromagnetic energy emitted by the sun. This radiation includes ultraviolet, visible, and infrared wavelengths. Measuring solar radiation is essential in many fields:

• Photovoltaic performance monitoring

• Weather and climate research

• Agricultural modeling

• Building energy efficiency

• Solar resource assessment

To accurately measure solar radiation, different types of radiation sensors are used — and this is where the distinction begins.

Definition: Pyranometer

A pyranometer is a type of radiation sensor designed specifically to measure solar radiation received from a hemisphere (180° field of view). It is most commonly used to measure Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI) — the total shortwave radiation received on a horizontal surface.

Key Characteristics:

• High accuracy

• Dome-shaped glass cover for angular response

• Typically passive (thermopile sensor)

• Used in meteorological and research-grade applications

• ISO 9060 standard compliant (classified as Secondary Standard, First Class, etc.)

Definition: Solar Radiation Sensor

The term solar radiation sensor is more general. It may refer to any device that measures solar radiation, including pyranometers, but also less precise sensors such as:

• Silicon photodiode sensors

• PV-based solar sensors

• Compact low-cost sensors for solar trackers or rooftop installations

Key Characteristics:

• Can be low-cost and compact

• Varying accuracy levels

• Often used in industrial or PV systems for simple monitoring

• May be calibrated against pyranometers, but not always ISO compliant

PV Pyranometer: A Special Case

A PV pyranometer is a solar radiation sensor specifically designed to monitor the solar radiation relevant to photovoltaic modules. These sensors often use silicon-based detectors tuned to the same spectral sensitivity as PV panels.

They are commonly used in solar farms to compare solar radiation input against the output of solar inverters, helping to identify efficiency losses and maintenance needs.

Comparison Table: Pyranometer vs. Solar Radiation Sensor

How to Know Which to Choose?

Choosing between a pyranometer and a solar radiation sensor depends on your application requirements:

✔ Choose a pyranometer if:

• You need high-accuracy measurements

• You are conducting scientific or research studies

• Your application is governed by ISO standards

• You are building solar resource assessment stations

✔ Choose a solar radiation sensor if:

• You need a cost-effective monitoring solution

• You’re integrating into a PV system or SCADA platform

• You’re looking for basic trends rather than scientific precision

• Space and budget are limited

For PV power plants, many engineers choose to install both: a PV pyranometer close to the panel angle for operational diagnostics, and a high-accuracy pyranometer on the horizontal plane for GHI benchmarking.

Understanding the difference between a pyranometer and a solar radiation sensor is key to selecting the right radiation sensor for your solar measurement needs. While both are used to measure solar radiation, the pyranometer offers scientific-grade precision, while the more general solar radiation sensor offers flexibility and cost efficiency.

Whether you're running a solar power plant, planning an agricultural model, or building a weather monitoring system, choosing the right sensor ensures data quality — and better decisions.

Here are pyranometer brochure and solar radiation brochure for your reference.

pyranometer brochure                              solar radiation brochure