Design of a Sustainable Container-Based Aquaponics System for Tropical Climate

Food security is a rising threat caused by the increase in global population and the gradual reduction in land for traditional agriculture. Container farms are gaining popularity due to their reduced reliance on traditional soil-based agriculture while being an innovative agricultural practice in cities. An extensive review was conducted to identify and evaluate the design features of container farms worldwide. As the design features are not completely suitable for tropical regions, this paper, therefore, aims to design a modular, scalable, and high-performance container-based aquaponics system that allows for all-year-round production of crops in a tropical climate. The proposed passive design features and green infrastructure include frames, floors, walls, ventilation, doors, and a mechanical and electrical room. Using semi-transparent building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) technology, simulations and analyzes of incident radiation on BIPV solar panels and grow towers were also conducted to ascertain the most effective panel setup for the container-based aquaponics system. Beneath the BIPV solar panels lies an innovative multi-loop aquaponics system that can efficiently cultivate fish and vegetables concurrently, addressing food security concerns.