Renewable-powered Off-Grid Hydroponic Systems for Resource-Efficient Agriculture: A Comprehensive Review
ARJUN RANA
University Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Chandigarh University, Gharuan, Punjab, 140143, India.
SHILPA KAUSHAL
*
University Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Chandigarh University, Gharuan, Punjab, 140143, India.
ANSHUL KANWAR
University Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Chandigarh University, Gharuan, Punjab, 140143, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Hydroponics presents a promising pathway for sustainable food production in regions facing land scarcity, water limitations, and climate stress; however, its high energy demand raises concerns regarding long-term economic and environmental feasibility when powered by conventional electricity sources. This review aims to critically examine the role of renewable energy in improving the sustainability, efficiency, and resilience of hydroponic systems. A systematic review approach was used, drawing from recent literature published between 2020–2025 across Google Scholar, Scopus, IEEE Xplore, and ScienceDirect, with inclusion criteria focused on renewable-powered hydroponics, system performance metrics, and climate-resilient farming applications.
The findings indicate that integrating renewable energy technologies such as solar, wind, biomass, and hybrid energy systems can improve hydroponic efficiency and operational sustainability. Reported benefits include up to ~92% energy self-sufficiency, 30–35% reductions in operating energy costs, and CO₂ emission reductions of up to ~65% compared to grid-powered systems. Additionally, the review highlights how advances such as LED lighting, IoT automation, AI-based energy management, and smart sensors further optimize energy efficiency and resource use.
This work contributes uniquely by bridging hydroponic agronomy with renewable energy system design, offering comparative insights across energy configurations, performance trade-offs, and feasibility in different climatic regions. The review also identifies current research gaps related to storage limitations, cost barriers, and scalability.
Overall, the findings provide a framework to support researchers, policymakers, and practitioners in advancing off-grid, climate-resilient, and resource-efficient hydroponic agriculture. These insights may guide future technological development and policy strategies toward carbon-neutral controlled-environment farming.
Keywords: Biomass, climate-resilient farming, controlled environment agriculture, energy efficiency, green technology, hydroponics, renewable energy, solar energy, sustainable agriculture, wind energy