AI-Assisted Commercial Aeroponic & Hydroponic Biosphere

Approx. 14m × 10m × 2.2m • 216 growing positions • 26 × 1000W full-spectrum LED • Individual pressurised plant-zone humidification • 120,000 BTU modular climate control • Dual CO₂ • 5-stage commercial filtration

Offered for sale is an exceptionally unusual, professionally designed and custom-built commercial controlled-environment biosphere, developed as a complete intelligent cultivation facility. The system has now been dismantled and is held in storage in County Durham, ready for inspection, collection and relocation.

When installed, the biosphere measured approximately 14 metres long × 10 metres wide × 2.2 metres high and brought multiple growing and environmental systems together into one coordinated installation.

In its previous installed configuration, the system combined large-scale predominantly aeroponic cultivation with hydroponic nutrient reservoirs, high-output full-spectrum LED lighting, precision root-zone spraying and atomisation, individual pressurised plant-zone humidification, AI-assisted cloud-connected automation, substantial heating and cooling capacity, CO₂ enrichment, commercial HVAC, extraction, recirculation, CCTV and five-stage air filtration.

The installation was originally developed for the controlled cultivation of high-value specialist crops and may be suitable, subject to the buyer’s requirements and all applicable laws, for commercial horticulture, controlled-environment agriculture, aeroponic or hydroponic production, botanical research, propagation, universities, agricultural R&D, crop trials and specialist indoor farming.

At the heart of the biosphere are 4 purpose-built raised growing stands, each approximately 7000mm long × 1200mm wide × 500mm high.

Each stand is surrounded by a substantial aluminium growing frame measuring approximately 7000mm × 1200mm × 2100mm high. These frames support the lighting, air movement and associated growing infrastructure.

Each stand incorporates an integrated heavy-duty rubber-lined base forming a nutrient solution/water reservoir with an approximate capacity of 3,000 litres per stand, giving approximately 12,000 litres combined potential capacity across all four stands.

Although the installation incorporates both hydroponic and aeroponic principles, the primary method of nutrient delivery to the exposed root structure is predominantly aeroponic.

Plants are supported within 20L root-pruning pots. As the plants develop, the roots extend through and below the pruning pots into the enclosed growing chamber inside each stand.

Rather than keeping the entire root mass continuously submerged, the hanging roots occupy a highly humid, oxygen-rich environment where nutrient-rich water is delivered through directional spray and fine atomisation.

The suspended root structures capture the fine nutrient-rich droplets generated within the growing chamber, while the rubber-lined bases act as large hydroponic nutrient/water reservoirs. The installation is therefore best described as a large-scale hybrid aeroponic/hydroponic system, with aeroponic spray and atomisation forming the primary method of nutrient delivery to the exposed roots.

Each of the four growing stands incorporates a dedicated pressurised water-vapour / humidification distribution system.

A water-vapour outlet is positioned adjacent to each plant-pot location, providing humidification coverage for up to 216 individual plant positions.

The system was designed to create a controlled humid microclimate around individual growing positions while also contributing to overall biosphere humidity. This allows humidity to be managed both at a local plant-zone level and across the whole controlled environment.

The sale includes 26 × 1000W full-spectrum LED grow lights.

The previous primary configuration used 6 lights above each of the 4 growing stands, providing 24 main lighting positions, with 2 additional units included.

This represents up to approximately 26kW nominal LED grow-light capacity included, with approximately 24kW forming the normal six-light-per-stand configuration.

Supported lighting functions formed part of the wider control architecture, including scheduling, automated day/night cycles, grouped switching and, where supported by the connected hardware, adjustment of intensity and colour temperature.

One of the most distinctive elements of the biosphere is its AI-assisted, cloud-connected growing and environmental control architecture.

Rather than relying entirely on independent switches and timers, the system was designed so that many critical processes could be centrally monitored, scheduled, automated, coordinated and remotely controlled.

The original control system was developed around Google cloud-connected technology, Google Assistant and intelligent automation routines.

The intelligent control architecture was designed to integrate functions including:

The purpose of the intelligent control system is to reduce the need for constant manual intervention by allowing repetitive environmental processes to operate according to predefined schedules, parameters and automation routines while still allowing the operator to monitor conditions and intervene when required.

With suitable software development and additional sensor integration, the system could potentially be developed further into a more advanced data-driven and AI-assisted controlled-environment agriculture platform, where environmental data is used to help optimise predefined cultivation strategies.

This combination provides multiple layers of heating, cooling, humidity control, air circulation and environmental conditioning rather than relying on a single climate-control source.

System 1 — LPG-Powered CO₂ Generation

Includes 1 × LPG-powered CO₂ generator, purpose-built galvanised CO₂ catchment/collection enclosure, Superpro CO₂ controller and associated seller-owned control/distribution infrastructure.

System 2 — Pressurised Multi-Cylinder CO₂ Distribution

Includes infrastructure for a pressurised 12-cylinder-capacity CO₂ system, RAM CO₂ controller, associated manifold/control equipment and pressurised distribution to ceiling-mounted delivery points.

The biosphere incorporates a substantial custom commercial air-handling installation designed to process internal air before atmospheric exhaust or filtered recirculation back into the controlled environment.

Included is approximately 60 metres of 400mm / 150mm galvanised ductwork, together with associated bends, reducers, fittings and installed infrastructure forming part of the system.

Five-Stage Filtration

The atmospheric exhaust side also incorporates a pressurised four-nozzle air-dosing system designed to introduce compatible air-neutralising solution into the outgoing air stream prior to atmospheric discharge.

6 × PTZ Full HD ceiling-mounted dome cameras provide coverage across the biosphere and growing stands.

4 × Full HD water-resistant internal inspection cameras are installed within the growing stands to allow visual inspection of root-zone spraying, atomisation, water movement, nutrient solution condition and internal stand operation.

10 cameras in total are included.

The growing stands incorporate internal UV lighting intended to assist with root-zone and water hygiene management, including management of conditions associated with algae and microbial contamination.

Combined with the enclosed reservoirs, spray/atomisation infrastructure and internal cameras, this allows the normally hidden root-zone environment to be actively managed and visually inspected.

Growing System

• 4 × custom raised growing stands, approx. 7000mm × 1200mm, each with heavy-duty rubber nutrient/water reservoir liner
• 4 × aluminium growing frames, approx. 7000mm × 1200mm × 2100mm high
• 220 × 20L root-pruning pots
• 216 × flexible directional root-zone spray nozzles
• 74 × atomiser / micro-droplet spray nozzles

Humidification

• 4 × integrated pressurised water-vapour / humidification systems, one serving each main growing stand
• Up to 216 × individual plant-position humidification / water-vapour outlets
• Associated distribution pipework/tubing, fittings, controls, solenoids and installed humidification infrastructure

Lighting

• 26 × 1000W full-spectrum LED grow lights
• 24 forming the primary six-light-per-stand configuration plus 2 additional units

Air Movement, Heating & Climate

• 32 × air-movement fans
• 24 × 1000mm tubular space heaters
• 5 × 24,000 BTU mobile/modular air-conditioning units with dual heating and cooling capability
• Approx. 120,000 BTU/h combined nominal modular heating/cooling capacity
• 3 × floor-standing HVAC / dehumidifier units

Water & Aeroponic Distribution

• Approx. 100 metres pressurised 22mm / 15mm water pipework
• Associated pipe fittings and distribution components
• Approx. 150 metres 8mm pressurised flexible water tubing
• Associated flexible tubing fittings and connectors
• Associated seller-owned solenoids, valves, actuators and water-control infrastructure

Camera & Monitoring System

• 6 × PTZ Full HD ceiling-mounted dome cameras
• 4 × Full HD water-resistant internal growing-stand inspection cameras
• 10 cameras total

Central Intelligent Control

• 1 × Samsung Pro tablet configured as the primary control and monitoring interface
• Associated cloud-connected sensors and smart switching/control hardware
• Temperature, humidity and environmental sensors
• Lighting, air movement, humidification, HVAC/dehumidification and heating/cooling controls
• Solenoid-control equipment, actuators and associated control modules
• Original Google cloud-connected / Google Assistant intelligent automation architecture

CO₂ System 1

• 1 × LPG-powered CO₂ generator
• Galvanised CO₂ catchment/collection enclosure
• Superpro CO₂ controller
• Associated seller-owned sensors, controls and distribution infrastructure

CO₂ System 2

• 1 × pressurised 12-cylinder-capacity CO₂ distribution system infrastructure
• RAM CO₂ controller
• Associated manifold and seller-owned control/regulation equipment where applicable
• Associated pressurised CO₂ distribution pipework and ceiling outlets/nozzles

Commercial HVAC / Air Filtration

• 1 × complete custom commercial HVAC / air extraction / air-recirculation system
• Approx. 60 metres combined 400mm / 150mm galvanised ductwork
• Associated duct fittings, bends, reducers and connectors
• Five-stage filtration system as described above
• Approx. 250kg activated-carbon pellet filtration stage
• Pressurised four-nozzle exhaust air-neutraliser dosing infrastructure

Stored Dismantled System

The growing stands, frames, lighting, climate equipment, water and humidification infrastructure, ductwork, CCTV and control hardware have been dismantled and are held in storage in County Durham.

Prospective buyers should inspect the stored components and satisfy themselves regarding condition, quantities, component identification, loading requirements and the type and number of vehicles required.

Collection, Loading & Transport

The buyer is responsible for arranging suitable vehicles, lifting equipment, loading, securing and transport unless specific assistance is agreed in writing before collection.

Optional New-Site Reassembly & Commissioning

Subject to location, access, site suitability and prior agreement, unpacking, reassembly, reinstallation and recommissioning at the buyer’s new location may be available at additional cost.

A bespoke quotation would be required based on travel distance, building layout, access, labour, lifting equipment, electrical and mechanical requirements and the level of recommissioning requested.

• Separate water filtration / water purification system
• Dutch trolley modular propagation/growing stands
• 2L root-pruning / propagation pots associated with the separate propagation system
• Supplier-owned, rented or exchange CO₂ cylinders
• LPG fuel
• Loose tools, personal equipment and unrelated stored items
• Any equipment not owned by the seller or not specifically included as part of the biosphere sale

This is used specialist custom-built commercial equipment, previously installed and operated. It has now been dismantled and is held in storage in County Durham. Components show normal cosmetic marks, dust, staining, wear and other signs of previous commercial use.

The equipment is no longer assembled or available to demonstrate as a complete operating system. Components may require cleaning, servicing, calibration, electrical testing, reconfiguration, re-pairing, software setup, consumable replacement and full recommissioning following relocation.

No representation is made that the dismantled system can be reassembled and immediately operated without appropriate professional inspection, testing and recommissioning.

The dismantled equipment is held in storage in County Durham and is offered on a collection / buyer-arranged transport basis as standard.

The buyer is responsible for suitable lifting equipment, loading, securing, transport, unloading, reassembly, reinstallation, testing, commissioning and all required risk assessments and method statements unless specific assistance is agreed in writing.

Subject to location and agreement, loading assistance, unpacking, reassembly and commissioning at the buyer’s new site may be quoted separately.