FEBRUAR 2016
Master thesis aimed to analyze the feasibility of decentralized of an off-grid PV-powered aquaponic system providing a food supply for circa. 30 persons in Venezuela.
All of the power supply will come from photovoltaic energy. The system will be off-grid, designed to have less possible amount of batteries.
The aquaponic system will supply a range of foodstuffs required for healthy balanced nutrition, and will be designed to provide fresh vegetable and fruits on a weekly basis and fish on a 6-week basis.
The motivation was to research the possibility a PV-powered aquaponic system as a relatively autonomous means for meeting the basic intrinsic human need for a sustainable food supply.
Food insecurity, population growth and increasing living standards are currently important issues.
In the foreseeable future, we will face global challenges that will jeopardize our living conditions.
Food insecurity currently affects millions, population is expected to increase 40% by 2050, and living standards expected to increase in developing countries where most population growth will occur, leading to increased energy and food demand.
Also, traditional agriculture is currently one of the biggest contributors of CO2 emissions and consumer of fresh water globally.
PV-powered aquaponic systems may be able to make a contribution to addressing these issues.
The goal was to examine and assess PV-powered aquaponic systems as a possible solution to meeting local food demand by empowering communities to be ‘prosumers’ and enabling them to cultivate fresh and organic food in a cheap and self-sustaining way.
