Techno-Economic and Environmental Feasibility of a Solar PV-Based Power Supply System for Paddle Wheel Aerator Operation in Aquaculture Farms

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, global aquaculture production reached a record high in 2022, surpassing capture fisheries for the first time. In Brunei Darussalam, the fisheries sector has exhibited steady growth over the past two decades. From an energy consumption perspective, the aquaculture industry is among the electricity-intensive sectors, with demand varying according to the size, layout, and number of ponds in operation. Aeration of aquaculture ponds, particularly intensive ponds, is a critical requirement, and while it is essential to achieve expected production levels, it also represents a major component of operational cost. Aerators are the most power-consuming equipment in aquaculture farms, and paddle wheel aerators generally operate continuously (24 h/day). The monthly energy consumption of a two-impeller paddle wheel aerator is 537.120 kWh. This paper discusses the techno-economic and environmental feasibility of a solar PV-powered energy supply system for paddle wheel aerator operation in aquaculture farms. A case study conducted at an operational aquaculture farm equipped with a hybrid PV system for aeration is analysed in detail. Furthermore, the economic performance of the PV system is evaluated at different penetration levels (10%, 25%, and 50%). The results indicate that solar PV integration provides substantial electricity cost savings, with increasing benefits at higher penetration levels. The payback period (PB) is 8.3 years for a 12.16 kWp (10%) system and 6.9 years for a 60.81 kWp (50%) system, with corresponding returns on investment (ROI) of 2.80% and 3.65%, respectively. The levelised cost of electricity is BND 0.036/kWh at 25% penetration (30.4 kWp) and BND 0.034/kWh at 50% penetration, representing 71.4% and 73.01% reductions, respectively, compared to grid electricity tariffs. At 50% PV penetration, monthly CO2 emissions are reduced by 6242.71 kg, with a lifetime reduction of 1872.813 tonnes.