Solar farms in Sweden can grow 400 times more saffron than traditional open fields.
March 19, 2026
Original Paper
Agrivoltaic systems unlock the potential of saffron cultivation in northern latitudes
SSRN · 6438722
The Takeaway
Saffron is a high-value Mediterranean crop that usually fails in cold northern climates. However, the microclimate created under solar panels protected the plants enough to yield 203g per hectare compared to just 0.5g in the open, suggesting solar infrastructure can make 'impossible' agriculture viable in the North.
From the abstract
Saffron is a bulbous herb with edible flowers and is considered a high-value crop. However, cultivating saffron at northern latitudes presents challenges, primarily due to adverse weather conditions during its productive phase. Therefore, this study tested whether microclimate modifications caused by a single-axis tracking agrivoltaic (AV) system could enhance saffron production. The experiment was carried out near Västerås, in central Sweden. A field trial was set up to cultivate saffron both u