SATRISE is a European research project funded by the European Space Agency (ESA), aiming to advance solar resource assessment through the use of 3D, spectrally resolved solar irradiance derived from satellite observations. The project addresses limitations of conventional solar resource products, which typically provide broadband irradiance at ground level and do not explicitly capture spectral effects or spatial variability relevant to complex photovoltaic systems. 

A central innovation of SATRISE lies in the development and exploitation of satellite-based datasets that provide irradiance information with both spectral resolution and 3D spatial characterisation. By combining satellite observations with advanced atmospheric and radiative transfer modelling, SATRISE makes it possible to better represent how clouds, aerosols and atmospheric composition influence not only the magnitude of solar irradiance, but also its spectral distribution and angular characteristics at the Earth’s surface. 

Within SATRISE, LuciSun contributes its expertise in solar resource assessment and PV simulation to evaluate how this new generation of irradiance data can be integrated into photovoltaic performance modelling. This includes the analysis of spectral effects on different PV technologies, as well as the assessment of how 3D irradiance information can improve the modelling of non-horizontal surfaces, complex geometries and innovative PV configurations. 

The project provides a structured framework to assess the added value of spectrally resolved and 3D solar resource information for PV energy yield assessment. By confronting these advanced irradiance products with current engineering practices, SATRISE helps clarify in which situations such data lead to measurable improvements, and where simpler solar resource inputs remain sufficient. 

Overall, SATRISE allows LuciSun to remain closely connected to advances in satellite-based solar observation and to critically evaluate their relevance for practical PV applications. The insights gained through the project contribute to the continuous refinement of LuciSun’s modelling approaches and support a more informed and forward-looking use of solar resource data in PV engineering, research and training activities.