This component calculates solar irradiance intercepted and absorbed by canopies. Absorbed irradiance rates are calculated either using the global incident solar irradiance or using direct and diffuse incident irradiance components. In the latter case, calculations can distinguish between sunlit and shaded leaf area fractions. Calculations are performed at an hourly time step when the direct and diffuse components are distinguished and at a daily time step when only the global irradiance is considered. Calculations can be performed considering the canopy as one leaf layer or considering the canopy as distinct vertical layers. In addition, the canopy can be considered having a spherical or ellipsoidal leaf angle distribution. The component is designed to calculate both photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) or near infrared radiation (NIR). The component is integrated in the wheat crop model SiriusQuality as an independent component developed in the public domain software framework BioMA (Biophysical Model Applications)