Albedo is the fraction of incoming shortwave solar radiation that a surface reflects, expressed as a dimensionless ratio between 0 and 1. A LoRaWAN albedo sensor, sometimes called an albedometer, pairs two pyranometers, one facing the sky to measure incoming irradiance and one facing the ground to measure reflected irradiance, and derives albedo from the two readings.
These devices sample at set intervals and send compact uplinks over long-range, low-power LoRaWAN. A payload codec on the network server decodes the bytes into incoming irradiance, reflected irradiance (both typically in W/m²), and the dimensionless albedo ratio. Battery or solar-powered operation suits remote, unattended sites.
Albedo data is widely used in bifacial photovoltaic plants to model rear-side gain, and in agriculture, snow and ice studies, and climate monitoring.
When comparing devices, weigh:
- Pyranometer spectral range and measurement accuracy
- Reporting interval, power source, and battery life
- IP enclosure rating and mounting hardware
- Supported regional frequency plans and codec availability
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Frequently asked questions
What does a LoRaWAN albedo sensor measure?
It measures albedo, the ratio of reflected to incoming shortwave solar radiation on a surface. The instrument uses paired pyranometers, one facing up to capture incoming sunlight and one facing down to capture reflected sunlight, and reports the dimensionless ratio plus the individual irradiance values.
Where are LoRaWAN albedo sensors used?
They are common in bifacial solar farms to quantify ground-reflected irradiance on rear-facing panels, and in agriculture, snow and ice monitoring, and climate research where surface reflectivity affects energy balance.
How do albedo sensors send data over LoRaWAN?
They sample the up- and down-facing irradiance, compute or transmit the values, and send a compact uplink on a schedule. A payload codec on the network server decodes the bytes into irradiance and albedo readings.