From Concept to Practice: Operationalizing the WEFE Nexus through a Low-Cost Solar-Powered Hydroponic System

Abstract

Given the growing demand for food, limited natural resources, shrinking arable land, and rising energy costs, sustainable agricultural solutions are urgently needed. The Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus provides an integrated framework for addressing these interconnected challenges by promoting synergies and minimizing trade-offs among sectors. This paper presents a community-led, solar-powered hydroponic system implemented in Wadi Al Wala, Jordan, as a practical and scalable example of the WEFE Nexus in action. The system was evaluated against soil-based agriculture across three cultivation cycles, focusing on water use, crop yield, land efficiency, and environmental performance. The ecological assessment used carbon dioxide emissions (kg CO₂ equivalent) as a key indicator to evaluate the system’s sustainability. Findings showed that the hydroponic system reduced water consumption by 24.8–37.9% and boosted crop yields by 30.4–106.6% compared to traditional agriculture. Furthermore, solar-powered hydroponics significantly lowered carbon emissions by 66.7 kg and 13.2 kg CO₂ eq. and presented a benefit/cost ratio of 6.3 and 1.7 compared to diesel-powered and grid-powered hydroponic systems, respectively. The performance metrics and cost-benefit indicators observed over the three cultivation cycles validate the environmental and resource-efficiency benefits of integrating renewable energy into innovative agricultural practices. Four hydroponic upscaling scenarios were developed using the REWEFE decision-support tool, demonstrating that hydroponic greenhouses are practical WEFE Nexus models that conserve resources, enhance productivity, and support environmental sustainability. However, a rebound effect was observed in the form of increased energy demand, underscoring the need for further expansion of solar energy integration to ensure long-term resilience and sustainability.