Biomass-Based Heating Systems for Temperature Regulation in Aquaponic Crop Production: Technologies, Sustainability, and Future Innovations

1,2Chinyere Nneoma Ugwu and Okechukwu Paul-Chima Ugwu2,3

1Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka

2Department of Research, Publication and Extension, Kampala International University, Kampala, Uganda

3Department of Biochemistry, Kampala International University, Kampala, Uganda

                                                                     ABSTRACT
Aquaponics integrates recirculating aquaculture and hydroponic crop cultivation within a closed-loop production system where fish waste is biologically transformed into plant-available nutrients. Despite its resource-efficiency advantages, temperature regulation remains a major technical constraint because fish, crops, and nitrifying microorganisms require stable thermal conditions for optimum performance. Conventional heating systems based on electricity and fossil fuels often increase production costs and weaken the environmental sustainability of aquaponics. This review critically examined the potential of biomass-based heating systems as renewable alternatives for temperature regulation in aquaponic crop production. The review synthesized evidence on biomass feedstocks, including agricultural residues, forestry by-products, animal wastes, biogas substrates, and dedicated energy crops, together with heating technologies such as biomass boilers, pellet and briquette burners, gasifiers, biogas units, combined heat and power systems, thermal storage, and hybrid biomass-solar configurations. Findings indicate that biomass heating can improve fish growth, crop productivity, nitrification efficiency, and year-round production when properly designed and controlled. Environmental benefits include waste valorization, reduced dependence on fossil fuels, and support for circular food-energy systems. However, outcomes depend strongly on feedstock quality, combustion efficiency, emission control, ash management, and system integration. Economic

feasibility varies with capital cost, fuel availability, labor demand, maintenance requirements, and local energy prices. Emerging innovations such as IoT monitoring, AI-based optimization, predictive control, and digital twins offer new opportunities to improve performance and reliability. Major research gaps include limited direct experimental studies, lack of standardized design models, insufficient species-specific data, and policy barriers to adoption. Biomass heating therefore represents a promising pathway toward climate-smart and low-carbon aquaponic production,
particularly in regions with abundant organic residues and rising demand for sustainable food systems.

Keywords: Aquaponics, Biomass heating, Temperature regulation, Sustainable agriculture, Renewable energy.

CITE AS: Chinyere Nneoma Ugwu and Okechukwu Paul-Chima Ugwu (2026). Biomass-Based Heating Systems for Temperature Regulation in Aquaponic Crop Production: Technologies, Sustainability, and Future Innovations. INOSR APPLIED SCIENCES 14(3):1-26.
https://doi.org/10.59298/INOSRAS/2026/14.3.126000