BIPV-driven smart vertical greenhouses: a water energy food environment nexus framework for sustainable urban agriculture

Abstract

This study addresses the inefficiencies and environmental burdens of conventional urban greenhouses by experimentally evaluating a building integrated solar-powered vertical greenhouse system designed for sustainable food production. A stepwise methodology is employed, in which energy audits defined system demands, followed by real-time measurements and performance simulations of photovoltaic energy integration. Three configurations were assessed including a conventional greenhouse, a smart greenhouse powered entirely by the grid electricity, and a smart greenhouse supplied by an integrated solar energy system with grid backup. The solar-powered system achieved 86 percent annual energy self-sufficiency, supplying 20,591 kWh of electricity and requiring minimal grid support. Additionally, real-world data were used to validate a modified simulation model accounting for environmental factors such as dust accumulation and aging, achieving a performance ratio of 82.6 percent. Economically, the system demonstrated a payback period of three years and a 17 percent internal rate of return, while environmentally it reduced annual carbon dioxide emissions by 4843 kg. Additionally, the closed-loop system achieved up to 90 percent water savings. This research contributes an experimentally validated, resource-efficient model for integrating solar energy with vertical food production systems tailored to urban sustainability goals.