Closed greenhouse concept integrating thermal energy storage (TES) applied to aquaponics systems

This paper focuses on the development of closed greenhouse concepts and application of that technology to aqua-ponics systems. At first, aquaponics systems and closed greenhouses with TES are described. Then, TES in abandoned mines are discussed. Finally, ongoing research on aquaponics systems at the South Westphalian University of Applied Sciences, Soest Campus, will be presented. The aim is to develop a concept for a prototype aquaponics system in the Ruhr-district in North Rhine-Westphalia at an abandoned coal mine in order to use mine water for heating the aquaponics system, improving the energy balance significantly.