S.A.BA.R., located in Reggio Emilia, is an innovative company specializing in indoors greenhouse farming of high-quality basil. Seeking to enhance crop yield and reduce operating costs, the company transitioned from HPS lamps to our energy-efficient LED grow lights. This case study highlights how the switch to greenhouse lighting powered by OSRAM LEDs significantly improved overall performance. With a focus on LED efficiency, our solution supported sustainable plants growth while cutting costs and energy use. Learn how S.A.BA.R. successfully upgraded its basil cultivation process and benefited from modern, efficient lighting technology that meets the specific needs of an indoors greenhouse dedicated to fresh herb production.

Aerial view of S.A.BA.R. indoors greenhouse illuminated with violet growing lights, LED efficiency and optimized plants growth.
The project

Previously, S.A.BA.R. used high-pressure sodium (HPS) lamps in their 750 m² indoors greenhouse to support basil growth and protect crops from disease. However, the system had major drawbacks: high operational costs and a peak energy demand of 32 kW. The goal was to significantly reduce energy consumption while maintaining or improving productivity. As stated in their technical assessment, the challenge was to cut consumption and increase efficiency without compromising results. Our LED lighting solution addressed all these needs by replacing HPS with more sustainable growing lights, tailored to the crop’s biology. This transition reflects the growing need to compare LED grow light vs HPS performance in real-world greenhouse farming applications.

Installation description

Our team replaced the HPS lamps with our LED fixtures powered by OSRAM LEDs, designed to emit within the photosynthetically active spectrum. These LED grow lights support uniform plants growth and efficient illumination for each development phase. After installation, S.A.BA.R. reduced peak energy consumption by 56% — from 32 kW to 14 kW — while maintaining excellent basil quality. The improved system also optimized light cycles, providing consistent LED light spectrum exposure aligned with growth stages. This upgrade significantly improved both productivity and LED efficiency, confirming the clear advantages of custom LED lighting in controlled greenhouse lighting environments. It also allowed more precise control over plant health and crop management.

Installed product

AE100

AE100 led grow light for plants: high led efficiency with Osram LEDs for plants growth

For this basil production project, S.A.BA.R. chose our AE100 fixture, ideal for demanding greenhouse lighting scenarios. AE100 provides a finely tuned LED light spectrum designed for high performance in challenging conditions such as indoors greenhouse environments. Its LED efficiency ensures consistent light intensity and resistance to temperature fluctuations, making it the perfect fit for high-quality basil farming. The fixture supports continuous growth cycles throughout the year, maintaining crop quality and optimizing resource use. With this upgrade, S.A.BA.R. strengthened its role as a leader in sustainable herb production by investing in durable, low-impact LED grow lamps that meet the specific needs of greenhouse-based plants growth.

Benefits achieved

Thanks to our LED solutions, S.A.BA.R. achieved outstanding results:

  • Energy efficiency: a 56% reduction in energy consumption, resulting in annual savings of €75,000 and a CO2 emissions reduction of 30 tons per year.
  • Improved productivity: the basil growth cycle decreased from 35 to 30 days, leading to a 20% increase in production.
  • Environmental sustainability: LED lighting ensures a cleaner, more eco-friendly process compared to traditional HPS lamps.
  • Superior quality: calibrated lighting promotes uniform growth, enhancing the appearance and health of the plants.

This project confirms the clear advantages of LED grow light vs HPS, especially in commercial greenhouse farming. Thanks to precise LED light spectrum control and better efficiency, S.A.BA.R. continues to produce premium basil with lower costs and reduced environmental impact—setting a model for the future of greenhouse lights in agriculture.