Articles | Volume 16, issue 18
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-4165-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-4165-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
19 Sep 2023
Research article |
| 19 Sep 2023
| 19 Sep 2023
Retrieval of surface solar irradiance from satellite imagery using machine learning: pitfalls and perspectives
Hadrien Verbois
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Mines Paris, Université PSL, Centre Observation Impacts Energie (O.I.E.), 06904 Sophia Antipolis, France
Yves-Marie Saint-Drenan
Mines Paris, Université PSL, Centre Observation Impacts Energie (O.I.E.), 06904 Sophia Antipolis, France
Vadim Becquet
Mines Paris, Université PSL, Centre Observation Impacts Energie (O.I.E.), 06904 Sophia Antipolis, France
Benoit Gschwind
Mines Paris, Université PSL, Centre Observation Impacts Energie (O.I.E.), 06904 Sophia Antipolis, France
Philippe Blanc
Mines Paris, Université PSL, Centre Observation Impacts Energie (O.I.E.), 06904 Sophia Antipolis, France
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Cited
15 citations as recorded by crossref.
- AecroFormer: First Noise-Robust Aerosol Microphysical Retrieval With Transformer Framework for Multiwavelength Raman Lidar Data W. Zou & D. Müller https://doi.org/10.1109/TGRS.2025.3594223
- Solar Irradiance Prediction Based on Satellite Image Data in Different Regions: A Deep Learning–Based Approach E. Yuzer & A. Bozkurt https://doi.org/10.1049/rpg2.70210
- Characterisation of cloud shadow transition signatures using a dense pyranometer network J. Witthuhn et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-5727-2026
- Spatial context importance in deep learning for global horizontal irradiance estimation from satellite imagery V. Becquet et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2026.114844
- CAMS radiation service v4.6 for solar energy: Evaluation of Himawari based surface solar irradiance products F. Azam et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2026.115505
- Surface solar radiation: AI satellite retrieval can outperform Heliosat and generalizes to other climate zones K. Schuurman & A. Meyer https://doi.org/10.1080/01431161.2025.2471596
- Estimation of All-Weather Daily Surface Net Radiation over the Tibetan Plateau Using an Optimized CNN Model B. Ma et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17233894
- Utilizing deep learning techniques in operational system of geo-KOMPSAT-2A satellite for estimating solar radiation and aerosol optical depth J. Ha et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/15481603.2026.2658318
- Validating physical and semi-empirical satellite-based irradiance retrievals using high- and low-accuracy radiometric observations in a monsoon-influenced continental climate Y. Chen et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-7315-2025
- Localized solar radiation zoning by combining spatially continuous estimates and Gaussian mixture models X. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jastp.2025.106432
- Large-scale resource assessments for solar photovoltaics: A review of potential definitions, methodologies and future research needs H. Heinrichs et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2025.125080
- On the Relationships between Clear-Sky Indices in Photosynthetically Active Radiation and Broadband Ranges in Overcast and Broken-Cloud Conditions W. Wandji Nyamsi et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16193718
- Satellite solar radiation forecasting by next-frame prediction — Advances and future opportunities A. Meyer https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyai.2026.100779
- Retrieval of surface solar radiation with deep-learning using contextually recovered background reflectance Y. Frischholz et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2025.114188
- Dealing with Shadows When Modelling BIPV Façades with Conventional PV Tools A. Marcos-Castro et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16091668
15 citations as recorded by crossref.
- AecroFormer: First Noise-Robust Aerosol Microphysical Retrieval With Transformer Framework for Multiwavelength Raman Lidar Data W. Zou & D. Müller https://doi.org/10.1109/TGRS.2025.3594223
- Solar Irradiance Prediction Based on Satellite Image Data in Different Regions: A Deep Learning–Based Approach E. Yuzer & A. Bozkurt https://doi.org/10.1049/rpg2.70210
- Characterisation of cloud shadow transition signatures using a dense pyranometer network J. Witthuhn et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-5727-2026
- Spatial context importance in deep learning for global horizontal irradiance estimation from satellite imagery V. Becquet et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2026.114844
- CAMS radiation service v4.6 for solar energy: Evaluation of Himawari based surface solar irradiance products F. Azam et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2026.115505
- Surface solar radiation: AI satellite retrieval can outperform Heliosat and generalizes to other climate zones K. Schuurman & A. Meyer https://doi.org/10.1080/01431161.2025.2471596
- Estimation of All-Weather Daily Surface Net Radiation over the Tibetan Plateau Using an Optimized CNN Model B. Ma et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17233894
- Utilizing deep learning techniques in operational system of geo-KOMPSAT-2A satellite for estimating solar radiation and aerosol optical depth J. Ha et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/15481603.2026.2658318
- Validating physical and semi-empirical satellite-based irradiance retrievals using high- and low-accuracy radiometric observations in a monsoon-influenced continental climate Y. Chen et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-7315-2025
- Localized solar radiation zoning by combining spatially continuous estimates and Gaussian mixture models X. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jastp.2025.106432
- Large-scale resource assessments for solar photovoltaics: A review of potential definitions, methodologies and future research needs H. Heinrichs et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2025.125080
- On the Relationships between Clear-Sky Indices in Photosynthetically Active Radiation and Broadband Ranges in Overcast and Broken-Cloud Conditions W. Wandji Nyamsi et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16193718
- Satellite solar radiation forecasting by next-frame prediction — Advances and future opportunities A. Meyer https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyai.2026.100779
- Retrieval of surface solar radiation with deep-learning using contextually recovered background reflectance Y. Frischholz et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2025.114188
- Dealing with Shadows When Modelling BIPV Façades with Conventional PV Tools A. Marcos-Castro et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16091668
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 06 Aug 2026
Short summary
Solar surface irradiance (SSI) estimations inferred from satellite images are essential to gain a comprehensive understanding of the solar resource, which is crucial in many fields. This study examines the recent data-driven methods for inferring SSI from satellite images and explores their strengths and weaknesses. The results suggest that while these methods show great promise, they sometimes dramatically underperform and should probably be used in conjunction with physical approaches.
Solar surface irradiance (SSI) estimations inferred from satellite images are essential to gain...
