Abstract
Considering population growth and increasing income levels, the global demand for food is anticipated to nearly double by 2050. Aquaculture is the fastest-growing food production system in the world, and it is expected that this sector will play a pivotal role in meeting this escalating demand. However, the vulnerability of fisheries and aquaculture farms to power interruptions poses a substantial threat to their operations and may result in the complete loss of farm operations. Currently, these farms heavily depend on fossil fuels, a practice with environmental consequences. An innovative solution lies in Ocean Renewable Energy, which is capable of providing power to both onshore and offshore aquaculture, thereby mitigating environmental impacts by providing sea-based power and diminishing reliance on diesel fuel. Ocean Thermal Energy, in particular, emerges as a consistently available energy source throughout the year, making it a dependable power supply for offshore fish farms. This study focuses on determining the optimal techno-economic configuration of a standalone hybrid Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC)-diesel system with Battery Energy Storage (BES) by adjusting the capacities of the BES and diesel generator (DG). The reliability index (RI) is computed to assess the energy system's capability for uninterrupted operation. Additionally, the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) is analyzed over the project's 25-year lifespan to assess the cost-effectiveness of the proposed energy system. The seasonal load profile of the fish farm, based on data collected from a site in South Florida, is factored in, with an additional provision for extra power required for monthly fish pen cleaning. This paper analyzes the feasibility of employing a hybrid renewable energy system to fulfill the power requirements of a fish farm in the United States.