Environmental assessment of industrial aquaponics in arid zones using an integrated dynamic model

Abstract

Land desertification, water scarcity, and food security challenges in arid zones are intensifying, driving the need for sustainable agricultural solutions like aquaponics. This study investigated innovative water and energy-saving strategies using an integrated dynamic model for an on-demand industrial aquaponics system in Israel. The model evaluated the performance of a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS), hydroponics system (HPS), and desalination unit (DU) by adjusting physical and operational parameters to optimize water and nutrient use efficiency, energy consumption, and yield. Optimizing the system design resulted in an aquaponics system with approximately 420 m³ RAS, 6.85 ha HPS and 40 m³/d DU, achieving phosphorus use efficiency of 96 %, a water use efficiency of 97 %, freshwater input of 1.5 L/day/m², and energy consumption of 0.56 kWh/day/m². To mitigate the challenges of extreme arid climates, evaporative cooling combined with outdoor shading and mechanical cooling was found to be a feasible option to control temperature and humidity in the greenhouse. Dehumidification technologies further improved system performance by recovering 22 % freshwater from seawater and increasing nitrogen use efficiency by 18 %. Achieving daily energy self-sufficiency required 4500 m² photovoltaic panels and 5000 m² solar heating system. While the system model was initially devised with a specific focus on conditions in Israel, it has been designed with scalability, allowing it to be adapted and applied extensively across diverse peri-urban regions and arid zones globally.