Research and experimentation project for horticulture and fish production using renewable energies

In this paper it will be presented the aims and some of the results obtaine d in the project entitled "Development of Solutions for Instrumentation, Co ntrol and Management Applied to Agricultural and Fish Production Using Rene wable Energies", sponsored by the Agriculture Ministry of Portugal. The exp erimental set-up is composed of three demonstration greenhouses and six aqu aculture tanks for production of green beans, tomatoes and tilapias. Severa l actuators and sensors are connected to an acquisition and control network developed at the Engineering Department of the University of Tras-os-Monte s and Alto Douro, Vila Real. The environmental factors controlled are: gree nhouse inside air temperature and humidity, CO2 concentration, and soil moi sture. Dissolved O-2, pH, temperature and water nitrate concentration are a lso controlled in the fish tanks. Three types of heating systems are being used on the greenhouses and aquaculture tanks: a geothermal water source, a solar heat pump and a wood-gas combined heater. At the end of this project it is expected to achieve an efficient control in order to maximize the ra tio production/costs. This implies the use of a supervisory module to perfo rm high level management decisions. At this level, a decision support syste m helps the producer to establish the chemical treatment plans. This will a lso help to reduce environmental contamination as well production costs.