Abstract
Aquaculture operators are predominately reliant on diesel generation for their ocean-based operations, while shore-based facilities like hatchery production and processing use grid supply electricity, typically with diesel backup power. The growing pressures on the industry necessitates a transition to perpetual, reliable clean energy sources to sustain growth and meet global sustainability expectations. The Project was designed to address the reliance on diesel generation, rising operational costs, and the limitations of grid power through ocean energy. This is particularly relevant as the aquaculture industry considers renewable energy options as part of their de-carbonisation strategy. As aquaculture considers expansion into offshore environments away from shoreline facilities, or remote areas, ocean energy, including wave, tidal, current flow energy can be options to replace fuel, gas or battery energy where grid-supplied electricity is not available. While solar, wind, and battery systems are common and proven in land-based microgrids, the addition of ocean (wave and/or tidal) energy generation offers a promising solution, though information and data for decision-making capital investment is scarce.
The Project tested the hypothesis that integrating wave energy with other renewables and storage can yield a more reliable, cost-effective and sustainable energy solution than a traditional solar-battery setup.
The Project validated that ocean energy integration enhances microgrid reliability while reducing emissions. Using Southern Ocean Mariculture (SOM) as a case study in Southwest Victoria, the project documented emissions impacts and developed an optimized wave energy microgrid design using wave energy data collected at the site as inputs. The research included energy modelling with HomerPro software, examining various scenarios to create a practical, replicable solution tailored to SOM’s requirements.
The Project Outcomes were a delivered methodology for preparing a business case for commercial evaluation; engagement of a commercial aquaculture industry with a commercial wave energy technology; the establishment of a de-carbonised scenario comparison pilot study test case for promotion and public interest; and a documentation of learnings and limitations. The modelling predicted that the commercial wave energy technology could replace all grid power when used in combination with SOM's existing 250kW solar array, and reduce carbon emissions by 94%, assuming that a small amount of diesel would still be required by the genset as a backup for emergencies.