doi: 10.18178/ijesd.2026.17.1.1561
From Concept to Practice: Operationalizing the WEFE Nexus through a Low-Cost Solar-Powered Hydroponic System
Arwa Abdelhay1,*
,
Serena Sandri2 ,
Munjed Al Sharif1 ,
Nooh Alshyab3 ,
Luay Jum’a2 ,
Ismail Abushaikha2
- 1Civil and Environmental Engineering, School of Natural Resources Engineering and Management, German Jordanian University, Amman, Jordan
- 2Logistic Sciences, Business School, German Jordanian University, Amman, Jordan
- 3Economics Department, Economics and Administrative Sciences, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan
- Manuscript receivedJune 17, 2025
- revisedJuly 6, 2025
- acceptedAugust 10, 2025
- publishedJanuary 19, 2026
Abstract
Given the growing demand for food, limitednatural resources, shrinking arable land, and rising energy costs,sustainable agricultural solutions are urgently needed. TheWater-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus provides anintegrated framework for addressing these interconnectedchallenges by promoting synergies and minimizing trade-offsamong sectors. This paper presents a community-led, solarpoweredhydroponic system implemented in Wadi Al Wala,Jordan, as a practical and scalable example of the WEFE Nexusin action. The system was evaluated against soil-basedagriculture across three cultivation cycles, focusing on water use,crop yield, land efficiency, and environmental performance. Theecological assessment used carbon dioxide emissions (kg CO₂equivalent) as a key indicator to evaluate the system'ssustainability. Findings showed that the hydroponic systemreduced water consumption by 24.8–37.9% and boosted cropyields by 30.4–106.6% compared to traditional agriculture.Furthermore, solar-powered hydroponics significantly loweredcarbon emissions by 66.7 kg and 13.2 kg CO₂ eq. and presenteda benefit/cost ratio of 6.3 and 1.7 compared to diesel-poweredand grid-powered hydroponic systems, respectively. Theperformance metrics and cost-benefit indicators observed overthe three cultivation cycles validate the environmental andresource-efficiency benefits of integrating renewable energy intoinnovative agricultural practices. Four hydroponic upscalingscenarios were developed using the REWEFE decision-supporttool, demonstrating that hydroponic greenhouses are practicalWEFE Nexus models that conserve resources, enhanceproductivity, and support environmental sustainability.However, a rebound effect was observed in the form of increasedenergy demand, underscoring the need for further expansion ofsolar energy integration to ensure long-term resilience andsustainability.
Keywords
- WEFE Nexus
- hydroponics
- sustainability
- resources management
- traditional framing
- Photovoltaic (PV) powered systems
How to Cite
Arwa Abdelhay, Serena Sandri, Munjed Al Sharif, Nooh Alshyab, Luay Jum’a, and Ismail Abushaikha, "From Concept to Practice: Operationalizing the WEFE Nexus through a Low-Cost Solar-Powered Hydroponic System," International Journal of Environmental Science and Development, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 28-38, 2026. https://doi.org/10.18178/ijesd.2026.17.1.1561
Copyright & License
Copyright © 2026 by the authors. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited (CC BY 4.0).