Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Renewable Energy Report
Renewable Energy Report
We would like to thank Dr. Anthony Kay, University of Limerick, for reviewing
this report.
December 2002
Table of Contents
1 Introduction 1
Case study 2
2 Energy Efficiency 5
Efficient Technology 5
3 Energy Loads 8
Fig 1.1 Energy Load of Pacific Oyster Farm 9
4 Wind Power 13
Wind Turbines 13
Windspeed 17
Windpumps 21
5 Hydropower 24
Fig 3.1 Top Hydroelectric Producing Countries 25
Micro-Hydro Systems 26
Ocean Energy 29
6. Solar Power 36
Solar Water Heating 36
Solar Electricity 38
Methane Digesters 43
Hydrogen Power 45
Geothermal Power 46
8 Environmental Considerations 47
9 Conclusion 49
10 Useful Contacts 51
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T H E P O T E N T I A L F O R R E N E W A B L E E N E R G Y
U S A G E I N A Q U A C U L T U R E
INTRODUCTION
"Coal, gas and oil will not be the three kings of the energy world for ever. It
is no longer folly to look up to the sun and wind, down into the sea's waves."
The Economist
I
n July 1996 the European Parliament adopted the Declaration of Madrid,
calling for a major boost in the share of renewable energy in the European
Union. The declaration states:
"In the year 2010, Renewable Energy Sources can, and with collaborative efforts between all actors
should, substitute the equivalent of 15% of conventional primary energy demand in the European
Union."
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T H E P O T E N T I A L F O R R E N E W A B L E E N E R G Y
U S A G E I N A Q U A C U L T U R E
One of the fundamental issues facing all of us today is proper management of our
energy resources. The current generation has a responsibility to ensure that energy
is used efficiently and with minimum impact on the environment. As
considerations of fuel diversity, market uncertainties and environmental concerns
are increasingly factored into electric utility resource planning, renewable energy
technologies are beginning to find their place in the utility resource portfolio.
Much has been written about the use of renewable energy and there is a myriad of
useful publications and manuals. The purpose of this report, however, is to outline
the various methods of using renewable energy with particular reference to
aquaculture. Whilst energy costs in aquaculture generally come behind salary, feed
and stock costs, it is nevertheless a significant part of operating cost. The reduction
of operating costs is the key to increasing competitiveness and long-term
profitability. As will be outlined in the first two chapters, energy conservation is an
important step in reducing costs. Perhaps surprisingly, some of the biggest
proponents of energy conservation are the electricity suppliers themselves who are
under increasing pressure to meet supply demands and indeed at times have to
restrict supply.
Aquaculture is a growing industry and one that has its fair share of criticism. The
location of aquaculture operations in remote areas may lend it to renewable energy
usage far easier than other small and medium sized enterprises. While cost benefits
are still marginal, the overall public perception of renewable energy being
environmentally friendly may be an important factor in improving the image of
aquaculture.
CASE STUDY
The report highlights a number of different sources of renewable energy and
discusses their potential application in aquaculture. In order to assess the potential
impact of each of the methods, practical examples are worked out in 3 fictional
case studies and these are examined where relevant.
C A S E S T U D Y 1 : P A C I F I C O Y S T E R F A R M
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T H E P O T E N T I A L F O R R E N E W A B L E E N E R G Y
U S A G E I N A Q U A C U L T U R E
Case study 1
is a 5o
tonnes/year
Pacific Oyster
farm. The
farm is
situated on an
exposed site.
C A S E S T U D Y 2 : F R E S H W A T E R T R O U T F A R M
The farm is situated in an inland rural area in Northern Ireland and produces 60
tonnes/annum of Rainbow Trout. The farm is situated on the site of an old mill
and draws water by gravity from an adjacent river. There is an onsite workshop and
hatchery unit containing graders, fish pumps, and an aeration system. Energy usage
varies throughout the year with high consumption during dry spells and when the
hatchery unit is operating during the winter.
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T H E P O T E N T I A L F O R R E N E W A B L E E N E R G Y
U S A G E I N A Q U A C U L T U R E
C A S E S T U D Y 3 : M A R I N E F I N F I S H R E C I R C F A C I L I T Y
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T H E P O T E N T I A L F O R R E N E W A B L E E N E R G Y
U S A G E I N A Q U A C U L T U R E
ENERGY EFFIENCY
"Electricity seems destined to play an important part in the arts and
industries." Ambrose Bierce 1876
A
ny analysis of the prospects for using renewable energy must first assess
the current energy load and, in particular, shortcomings in the system,
which lead to energy wastage. There is little point in developing an
elaborate integrated energy system without first addressing energy leaks
and loss. A common sight on most farms is the DIY approach to electrical
maintenance. Wires fused together and wrapped in insulating tape, thermostats left
to seize up and water pumps operating at inefficient levels all combine to reduce
the efficient use of the energy being drawn upon. Northern Ireland Electricity
estimates that these losses can add 10% to an average farms electricity bill.
Many homeowners have in recent times become aware of the need for energy
conservation. Items such as insulated water cylinders and attics are now accepted
standards in all new homes. The application of this ethos in the commercial
environment has been slow but is now being instigated, directed by national policy,
and business is accepting the important role it has to play in implementing energy
reduction programs.
Efficient Technology
Many aquaculture operations still use equipment and machinery that they
established their business with. While this loyalty is admirable it is increasingly
misplaced. Advances in technological design and energy efficiency mean that
change is not only necessary for depreciation purposes but also to make your
operation more cost effective. High volume pumps for example now have loadings
as low as 0.75kW in comparison to the 2.2kW pumps in standard use in the recent
past. Modern control switches and thermostatically controlled apparatus’ mean that
equipment is in use for the minimum time necessary. The benefits of choosing
these technologies generally more than compensate for any additional cost. The
availability of European and government funding to the sector specifically aimed at
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T H E P O T E N T I A L F O R R E N E W A B L E E N E R G Y
U S A G E I N A Q U A C U L T U R E
the purchase of new capital items means that there has seldom been a better time
to update your farm’s equipment.
1The standard depreciation for industrial equipment is 20%/annum, however the harsh working
environment of aquaculture means that 25% is more appropriate. Electric motors typically have 3
months running costs = capital cost.
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T H E P O T E N T I A L F O R R E N E W A B L E E N E R G Y
U S A G E I N A Q U A C U L T U R E
So what in practice does all this mean for people in the aquaculture industry? The
following bullet points outline steps that can be taken to improve energy efficiency
on most farms and will probably lead to a reduction in energy costs.
Ensure pumps, lights and motors are switched off when not needed;
Ensure the farm is on the right tariff program with your electrical
supplier;
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T H E P O T E N T I A L F O R R E N E W A B L E E N E R G Y
U S A G E I N A Q U A C U L T U R E
Energy Loads
"Electricity, the peril the wind sings to, in the wires on a grey day."
E L E C T R I C I T Y
Janet Frame
G L O S S A R Y
F
AC - "Alternating current". irstly it is important to understand what a load is and the exact meaning of
Mains electricity & also energy and power. Energy in this context refers to what you pay for, from
generators. your electricity supplier. Energy is measured in units and these units appear
Amps - measure of electric
on your electricity meter. A unit of electricity is referred to as a 'Kilowatt-
hour' (kWh). All electrical appliances are obliged by law to display their rating or the
current
number of watts, which the appliance will use in one hour if running continuously.
Current - The flow of electricity For example if a toaster has a rating of 500 watts it will use ½ of a unit in one hour.
measured in amps Similarly an electric water pump with a rating of 2.2 kW will use 2.2 units per hour
DC -"Direct Current" as used in if running continuously. The average home in the UK and Ireland uses around
charging batteries.
5,000kWh/annum. The bulk of this electricity is used up in heating homes and
powering electrical appliances such as cookers, fridges, televisions and so on. An
Gigawatt (GW) – 1,000 MWs
aquaculture facility may use some of the above appliances, but pumps, machinery
Inverter - Device for etc. consume the majority of electricity. Looking at each case study individually we
converting d.c into a.c can calculate the load and subsequently assess the potential for using different
Load - Anything which uses sources of renewable energy.
electricity
The system load is the likely number of kWh used over a period of time. By
Mains - grid electricity supplied assessing what the load is likely to be we can calculate
at 230 volt a.c how much energy is needed and consequently the size of
Megawatt (MW) – 1,000 kWs power source required in order to power all our
appliances. Working out the system load is always
Power - Rate of delivery of
approximate. For instance, whilst a fridge may use 1kW,
energy. Energy per hour. it is constantly switching itself on and off by thermostatic
Measured in watts (W) or control and therefore isn't using as much energy as
Kilowatts (kW). 1kW=1,000W. initially assumed. Looking back over old electricity bills
Rectifier - Device which will give us an idea of the average usage over a month
but doesn't indicate the peak load.
converts a.c to d.c
TWh - 1,000,000,000 kWh In the tables below we have tried to show an estimate of
Voltage - Electrical 'pressure the loads in relation to each case study and energy
drop' between two wires. usage/week. With this information we will then look at
the various types of renewable energy and assess their appropriateness to
aquaculture.
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T H E P O T E N T I A L F O R R E N E W A B L E E N E R G Y
U S A G E I N A Q U A C U L T U R E
C A S E S T U D Y 1 : P A C I F I C O Y S T E R F A R M
The maximum load is 9.3kW and the weekly load is 79.3kWh. This loading is low
and consumption is on par with an average family home. The purification system
uses the most power followed by the holding pond aerator. Interestingly the kettle
has the highest load of all the appliances.
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T H E P O T E N T I A L F O R R E N E W A B L E E N E R G Y
U S A G E I N A Q U A C U L T U R E
C A S E S T U D Y 2 : R A I N B O W T R O U T F A R M
The aeration system uses the highest amount of power. The system is used
generally during the summer months, but in this case we have spread the energy
load over the full year.
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T H E P O T E N T I A L F O R R E N E W A B L E E N E R G Y
U S A G E I N A Q U A C U L T U R E
C A S E S T U D Y 3 : M A R I N E R E C I R C F A R M
The marine recirc facility has by the far the biggest energy consumption of the
three case studies. Energy costs run into thousands of pounds per annum. To
separate out all the power ratings for the system would require a long list so the
ratings are grouped. Energy usage is constant throughout the year to ensure a stable
growing environment for the fish.
Having an estimate of the power consumption of the three case studies we can
now look at the different renewable energy systems with an appreciation of just
how much power is required.
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T H E P O T E N T I A L F O R R E N E W A B L E E N E R G Y
U S A G E I N A Q U A C U L T U R E
The Result
The overall system reduced energy consumption to 184.6MWh saving
approximately 87% over a conventional system. Moreover an increase in
production of 40% has been estimated as a result of the increased and
constant temperature. There is also a reduction of CO2 emissions of 218
ton/year. The initial investment for the system was $85,000, which
includes the passive heat exchanger, filter, pumps, heat pump and piping.
The specific energy cost is $26.4/(m3/h)/0C/year.
Source: CADDET
12
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T H E P O T E N T I A L F O R R E N E W A B L E E N E R G Y
U S A G E I N A Q U A C U L T U R E
WIND POWER
"Take care, your worship, those things over there are not giants but
windmills." CERVANTES
P
ower from the wind is probably the most familiar of all renewable energy
sources. The Middle Ages saw wind being harnessed to pump water and
mill grain and this continues in many parts of the world where the
mainstream electricity grid is unavailable or prohibitively costly. While most
wind power applications in Europe concentrate on electricity generation, the
potential for wind pumps is also applicable to aquaculture and so will be reviewed
here as well. The technology being developed to harness wind power has
accelerated at a great pace over the last 10 years bringing costs down and efficiency
up.
WIND TURBINES
By far the most common method of harnessing the wind in Europe is by using
horizontal axis wind turbines. Wind turns a rotor or blade, which converts the
energy to electricity through a gearbox and
generator situated in the windmill tower. This
form of electricity generation has been used
since the 19th century but only began to receive
serious attention in the 1970s when the oil crisis
amongst other things resolved the global
communities minds to developing renewable
sources of energy. In the past 20 years,
therefore, there has been a dramatic decrease in
the cost of wind machines and significant
improvements in system performance, making
wind power the most commercially viable of all
renewable sources in grid connected electricity-
generating applications.
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T H E P O T E N T I A L F O R R E N E W A B L E E N E R G Y
U S A G E I N A Q U A C U L T U R E
2 Source: European Commission - Directorate- General for Energy. Wind Energy - The Facts
3 AER – The Dept of Public Enterprise invite tenders for CHP (Combined Heat and Power) generation
through renewable energy. Grant assistance is available and successful tenders sell power to the ESB.
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T H E P O T E N T I A L F O R R E N E W A B L E E N E R G Y
U S A G E I N A Q U A C U L T U R E
Ireland 17 44 3.4
UK 379 114 75.8
Austria 60 3 3
Belgium 82 5 5
Denmark 31 27 6.2
Finland 66 7 7
France 491 85 85
Germany 534 24 24
Greece 41 44 8.2
Italy 207 69 41.4
Luxembourg 1 0 0
The Netherlands 89 7 7
Portugal 32 15 6.4
Spain 178 86 35.6
Sweden 176 58 35.2
Total EU 2384 588 343.2
FIG 2.1 The European wind energy potential and electricity consumption. EC Directorate-General
for Energy.
4 Van Wijk AJM and Coelingh JP " Wind Potential in the OECD countries" 1993
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T H E P O T E N T I A L F O R R E N E W A B L E E N E R G Y
U S A G E I N A Q U A C U L T U R E
Recently in Ireland applications have been made for numerous offshore wind
farms, particularly on the East Coast. These farms have the potential to supply
up to 10% extra electricity to the grid alone substantially increasing Irelands
use of renewable resources. New foundation technologies, using steel rather
than concrete have improved the economics of offshore wind technology
dramatically. Wind turbines at sea would have a longer design lifetime due to
lower mechanical fatigue loads.
As already mentioned wind turbines consist of a rotor or set of blades, which turns
when faced into the wind. This is achieved by a hinged tail vane or rotor design,
which steers the blades to get the maximum force from the wind. This also has the
effect of steering the blades out of the wind in a gale where the strength of the
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T H E P O T E N T I A L F O R R E N E W A B L E E N E R G Y
U S A G E I N A Q U A C U L T U R E
wind may cause damage to the turbine. As the blades turn they rotate a generator
through a gearbox. The generator, which is situated in the nacelle or outer casing,
generates AC power, which travels down a cable to the battery. The AC power
must then be converted to DC, which is what the battery stores. This is done quite
simply through a semiconductor system called a rectifier. A device called a shunt
regulator stops a battery from overcharging when there is a surfeit of wind.
The power that is stored in the battery is as we have said in DC form. Some
equipment can be run off DC, but all mains equipment runs off AC, so we need to
convert the power back to AC to run items such as pumps, graders etc. To do this
we need a device called an inverter. Inverters are widely used on windpowered
systems to run mains powered equipment from batteries. An inverter can be an
expensive piece of the system but plays a crucial role in converting wind energy
into usable power.
Windspeed
Windspeed obviously has a great effect on the amount of energy that can be
produced. In general Ireland has abundant wind, but this varies significantly from
place to place, depending on weather systems and local topography. It is important
to note that wind energy increases with height above sea level. Trees, buildings and
other structures slow down and deflect the wind. As with
most aquaculture operations site is everything and this is
no different with windpower. The most important criteria
when determining whether a site is suitable is the average
windspeed measured in metres per second (m/s).
Windspeed figures can be got from the meteorological
service but these figures will most likely not be site specific.
A site appraisal looking at the surrounding area and siting
an anemometer (windspeed measuring instrument) for a
period of time will give you an indication of the average
windspeed.
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T H E P O T E N T I A L F O R R E N E W A B L E E N E R G Y
U S A G E I N A Q U A C U L T U R E
Tower height and position is of critical importance and even more so in sheltered
areas where extra height may give access to up to 30% more windspeed. Sites for
small wind turbines are nearly always near some small buildings or trees and so the
simplest advice is to try and place the windmill in the most exposed area possible
and to have the tower as high as possible.
FIG 2.2 Frequency of wind directions for groups of wind speeds at selected stations. Met Eireann.
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T H E P O T E N T I A L F O R R E N E W A B L E E N E R G Y
U S A G E I N A Q U A C U L T U R E
The majority of small wind turbines will work at their most efficient at windspeed
of 6-12m/s. Nearly all wind turbines will however provide some power in winds as
light as 3m/s. These figures emphasise the importance of battery storage and/or
back up supply whether from the mains, diesel generator or another source of
renewable energy.
4m/s 1.5 6 15 40
5m/s 3 12 25 75
6m/s 4 17 40 110
Using the loads calculated in chapter 3, lets look at our case studies and the use of
various wind systems.
C A S E S T U D Y 1 : P A C I F I C O Y S T E R F A R M
We know from chapter 3, that the load associated with the pacific oyster farm is
9.3kW with an average weekly consumption of 79.3 kWh. The load, however,
varies at various times in the
Item Cost € (estimate) year and during the week. The
farm is in a windy place, being
Wind Turbine 6,500 beside the sea, with prevailing
winds from the southwest. We
Tower 3,600 can estimate an average
windspeed of 6m/s at a height
Battery & Cable 4,000 of 20m. From the output table
we can estimate that a 5m-
Inverter 3,800 diameter wind turbine should
give adequate cover. The cost of
Shunt Regulator 1,300 this type of machine including
batteries is shown. Whilst this
19,200 may seem prohibitively costly,
grant aid is available.
Nevertheless, a long payback
time is involved (>10 years) and wind power is not viable in this case unless grid
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T H E P O T E N T I A L F O R R E N E W A B L E E N E R G Y
U S A G E I N A Q U A C U L T U R E
We know from chapter 3, that the load associated with the Rainbow Trout farm is
23.3kW with an average weekly consumption of 280.7 kWh. The load varies at
various times in the year and during the week. The farm is situated inland and the
average windspeed is 4m/s. Given the relatively low wind speed it would take a
wind turbine of 8m diameter and larger to power the site. Using a wind turbine in
this situation is uneconomical. A smaller system could be used to power just part of
the energy needs.
C A S E S T U D Y 3 : M A R I N E R E C I R C F A R M
The farm has high energy usage running at around 13.67MWh per week. Installing
a small scale system is again uneconomical. The development of offshore wind
generating systems has dramatically improved the cost of wind energy. It is possible
to have a 20% increase in windspeed with an offshore turbine, This would result in
a 75% increase in electricity generation. 600kW – 1.5MW machines generate
elctricity at a cost of around 4-6 cent per kWh. If the marine recirc facility used an
offshore wind turbine it could in theory pay for itsself in 8-10 years. The machines
have a lifespan of 25 years giving plenty of energy savings over a twenty year
period.
As a guideline land based wind turbine systems cost around €1,700 - €5,000 per
kW installed depending on size. They are obviously more economical on a larger
scale when it is also viable to sell excess wind energy into the grid. One of the big
drawbacks on this side of the Atlantic is that if using renewable energy you are not
allowed to run your meter backwards by your power supplier. This is known as ‘net
metering’ and is currently being lobbied for by the Irish Wind Energy Association
among others. If it was possible, most businesses could have small-scale units,
running back units used off the mains and reducing their bills.
Windpowered turbines may have a part to play in aquaculture and this is solely site
dependent. Any of the windpower companies will do a thorough site assessment
and calculate just how much power can be generated and at what cost. It is
certainly worth exploring the possibility if you feel your site has wind speeds of
6m/s or higher.
Note: Power from wind is extremely sensitive to wind speed, being a function of the wind speed3,
therefore conclusions here are dependant on the assumptions regarding wind speeds at the three case
study sites.
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U S A G E I N A Q U A C U L T U R E
WINDPUMPS
Windpumps (water pumping windmill) aren't the most common site in the Irish
landscape and most people when asked first would find it hard to recall ever seeing
one. Yet think of an old western movie or conjure up images of the outback or
Mongolia and windpumps go hand in hand with the landscape. These rusty old
pumps with their large multi-bladed heads have been pumping water from wells
worldwide for generations. Reliable and hardy they
bring water to the surface in areas where the nearest
grid electricity may be thousands of miles away.
Why these were never common in Ireland could be
due to the abundance of rainwater and springs, but
they may yet have a part to play in aquaculture.
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T H E P O T E N T I A L F O R R E N E W A B L E E N E R G Y
U S A G E I N A Q U A C U L T U R E
for low head application. This pump is only 4.5m tall and can pump up to 60m3
/hr. This type of pump could be suitable where planning restricts traditional lattice
type installations.
In America and Canada windpumps are also used to aerate dugouts (watering
holes). Up until the 1980s farms used electrically powered air compressors.
However more recently, bank mounted windpumps have proven to be a reliable
low cost alternative. Similar systems could be used in aquaculture installations to
provide aeration to pond water. A system trialled in Alberta, Canada used a 3-blade
high-speed propeller driving a 6-inch diaphragm pump. A system of 2 check valves
and a 3/8-inch diameter air hose delivered air below the water surface. The pump
delivered on average 3.3 cubic feet per minute. This is around 3 times the airflow
needed to maintain dissolved oxygen necessary in a one acre perch pond and so
has great potential in eliminating the need for expensive 2.2kW paddle aerators
which use up more of your farms power. The windpump in this case started
rotating at a windspeed of just 3 miles/ hr and reached 400 revolutions per minute
at wind speeds of 16 miles / hr.
Let us now look at the application of windpump technology for our three case
studies.
C A S E S T U D Y 1 : P A C I F I C O Y S T E R F A R M
The oyster farm purifies its product in a simple batch purification system. The
system holds 1,200 l of water and this is replaced every 42 hrs. A mains powered
pump pumps this water into the tanks through a header tank, which is filled at high
tide. The farm also has two storage and holding ponds in which stock is placed
after grading when ready for sale. These holding ponds have a capacity of 60m3
each and are filled by a mains powered pump at high water. The water is replaced
once a week.
The farm pumps relatively little water and so any No. Of Pumps 2
application of windpump technology is unlikely
to be cost efficient in the short to medium term. Pump load 4kW
A shellfish hatchery or nursery may find it viable
to use windpumps and aerators, as the quantities Volume
124.8m3
of water used are far higher. As is the case with pumped/week
wind turbines the coastal nature of this case study
makes it very well positioned to exploit wind Cost/week €0.55
energy.
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U S A G E I N A Q U A C U L T U R E
C A S E S T U D Y 2 : R A I N B O W T R O U T F A R M
The trout farm is situated on a river and takes approx. 36 million litres/day by
gravity flow. Pumping such a huge volume of water would be financially
prohibitive. An aeration system on the farm operates during the summer when
dissolved oxygen is low. From the table we can see that a not inconsiderable
amount is spent providing energy for the aeration system during the summer. The
installation of a windpump system would
No. of aerators 7 provide the same amount of aeration but at a
fraction of the cost. The existing aeration
Pump load 14kW system could be used during times of low wind
speed5.
1,638Kg
Aeration
O2 Using a windpump may be viable on a site not
amount
added fed by gravity flow and where the water could
be reused and recycled in order to reduce the
Energy daily intake.
€30
Cost/week
C A S E S T U D Y 3 : M A R I N E R E C I R C F A R M
The marine recirc farm replaces 5% of its water volume per day amounting to 864
m3/day. The pumping costs in order to achieve this replacement are in the order of
€20/week. A windpump unit could replace this volume over a payback period of
20 years and even at that the supply would be variable. A smaller windpump could
be used to pump non-time restrictive water such as in a settlement tank. The cost
viability for this particular type of unit is still prohibitive.
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U S A G E I N A Q U A C U L T U R E
HYDRO POWER
"Let not one river or stream or rivulet reach the sea without yielding its
energy potential." John Seymour
H
D I D Y O U
ydro power (water power) is one of the most reliable methods of using
K N O W ?
renewable energy. It is used by power companies world wide because of
Over 99% of Norway's its availability, consistency and cost effectiveness. Hydro schemes whilst
electricity is produced by expensive to build often go hand in hand with water reservoir projects so
Hydro power. the benefits are two fold. Unfortunately for power companies it is only viable to
dam the bigger rivers for hydro use. For the average householder, however, that
stream at the bottom of the garden may be able to power the electricity needs and
it may even be possible to sell some electricity back to the power company. Power
companies may purchase energy made from renewable sources and many old mills
have turbines working away happily, making money for their owners.
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T H E P O T E N T I A L F O R R E N E W A B L E E N E R G Y
U S A G E I N A Q U A C U L T U R E
350
300
250
Billion kWh
200
150
100
50
0
Canada USA Russia Brazil China Norway Japan Sweden India France
Whilst hydropower can be used for mechanical means such as milling grains we
will concentrate on the use of hydropower for electrical generation. Hydropower
plants capture the energy of falling water to generate electricity. A turbine converts
the kinetic energy of the falling water into mechanical energy. Then a generator
converts this mechanical energy into electrical
energy. Hydro plants range in size from 'micro-
hydro' that power a home or business to giant
dams like the Hoover Dam in America, which
provides electricity for millions of people.
Dam- Raises the water level of the river to create falling water. Also controls
the flow of water. The reservoir that is formed behind the dam is, in effect,
stored energy.
Turbine- The force of falling water pushing against the turbines blades causes
the turbine to spin. A water turbine is much like a windmill, except the energy
is provided by falling water instead of wind. The turbine converts the kinetic
energy of falling water into mechanical energy.
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Generator- Connected to the turbine by shafts and possibly gears, so when the
turbine spins it causes the generator to spin as well. This converts the
mechanical energy from the turbine into electric energy. Generators in
hydropower plants work just like the generators in other types of power plants.
How far the water falls vertically- The further the water falls the more power
it has and subsequently the more energy. The height of the dam usually dictates
this. This vertical height is known as the head of water and is quoted in metres.
The amount of water falling- Quite simply the volumetric flow rate of the
river, although dams can back up the water supply thereby increasing the water
flow for short periods.
Micro-Hydro systems
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T H E P O T E N T I A L F O R R E N E W A B L E E N E R G Y
U S A G E I N A Q U A C U L T U R E
Where
Efficiency = This depends on how well the hydro plant converts kinetic energy to
mechanical energy to electricity. Can vary from 59% (0.5) to 90% (0.90).
Let us assume that we want to place a micro hydro system on the inlet channel to
our trout farm. The head is 1.5m and the flow is 4m3/s. We will assume an
efficiency rating of 80%.
4.76 kW could be enough energy to supply for aerators or a feeder system and
would save this farm over €3,000 /annum. The system would probably pay for
itself within 3 years.
Hydro systems can be used for direct power or to charge batteries similar to
systems used in conjunction with wind turbines.
C A S E S T U D Y 1 : P A C I F I C O Y S T E R F A R M
The oyster farm as we have already seen does not pump large amounts of water
and doesn’t have access to flowing water on site. Hydropower is therefore not
applicable.
C A S E S T U D Y 2 : R A I N B O W T R O U T F A R M
The rainbow trout farm is ideally placed to harness energy from hydropower. Large
volumes of water are continuously flowing through the site with an overall head
between inlet and outlet of 3 metres. Rather than place one large turbine on the
raceway it may be more beneficial to install a series of micro turbines on the farm,
which could power much of the site’s energy needs. If a large turbine was placed
on the site it could supply electricity for sale to the local Power Company.
Electricity companies are obliged to try and purchase electricity made from
renewable energy. There would be little disadvantage in installing turbines on site.
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U S A G E I N A Q U A C U L T U R E
The entrance grid has to be cleared of leaves anyway during the winter months and
this would adequately protect the turbine. The water being used is still available to
the farm and the water quality will remain the same. The initial capital cost may be
high but systems could pay for themselves in 3-4 years time. Many old millraces,
which have not been utilised by fish farms, are used for electricity generation
already, and with slight modification existing civil works may be used for energy
production, thus reducing capital costs substantially.
C A S E S T U D Y 3 : M A R I N E R E C I R C F A R M
The use of hydropower in this system is uncertain. There is no natural head on the
site as all water is pumped except for water returning to the sea. It may be possible
to place a small turbine unit somewhere in the system to recoup energy used by the
pumps but this might need extensive redesign and is likely to be more troublesome
and not cost effective. If large volumes are returned to the sea, a small turbine
could be placed at the outflow, which could contribute to the energy needed for
the inflow pump.
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Ocean Energy
The ocean and seas can produce two types of energy: thermal energy from the
sun’s heat, and mechanical energy from the tides and waves.
The oceans cover more than 70% of the earth’s surface, making them the world’s
largest solar collectors. The sun’s heat warms the surface water a lot more than the
deep ocean water, and this temperature difference creates thermal energy. Ocean
thermal energy is used for many applications, including electricity generation. There
are three types of electricity conversion systems: closed-cycle, open cycle, and
hybrid. Closed cycle systems use the ocean’s warm surface water to vaporise a
working fluid, which has a low-boiling point, such as ammonia. The vapour
expands and turns a turbine. Open-cycle systems actually boil the seawater by
operating at low pressures. This produces steam that passes through a turbine.
Hybrid systems combine both methods.
Ocean mechanical energy is quite different from thermal energy. Even though the
sun affects all ocean activity, tides are driven primarily by the gravitational pull of
the moon, and waves are driven primarily by the winds. As a result, tides and waves
are intermittent (though predictable) sources of energy, while thermal energy is
fairly constant.
A barrage (dam) is typically used to convert tidal energy into electricity by forcing
the water through turbines, activating a generator. For wave energy conversion
there are three basic systems: channel systems that funnel the waves into reservoirs;
float systems that drive hydraulic pumps; and oscillating water column systems that
use the waves to compress air within a container. The mechanical power created
from these systems either directly activates a generator or transfers to a working
liquid, water, or air, which then drives a turbine/generator. Tidal power plants
generally need a large tidal range and are costly.
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U S A G E I N A Q U A C U L T U R E
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Scotland and builds systems that have been placed worldwide. The biggest
problem of wave energy generators is the unpredictability of waves – one day
the sea is as flat as a pancake, the next you might be swept of your feet if you
stand too close. In August 1995 the British wave energy machine ‘Osprey’
sunk due to too much wave action, without having produced even 1 kWh
electricity.
So far only two wave energy generators have been installed for high
production, one in Norway, the other
on the Scottish island of Islay. Here, in
November 2000 a more robust version
of the ‘Osprey’ was connected to the
mains. ‘Limpet’, a 500kW wave
converter, sits snugly like its relative in
the mollusc world on a rocky wall and
uses the changing water levels to
produce electricity. The generator
‘Limpet’ supplies electricity to 400 households,
consists of a hollow body, which opens
picture courtesy of MARE 25 below the water line. The rising water of
a wave pressurises the air out of the
hollow body through a turbine, the falling water sucks it back. The turbine is
constructed as such that it turns both ways.
In 2003 two English wave power developers plan on installing shoreline
devices. Wavegen, already having a small device in Islay, are planning another
1MW floating device for installation over the summer, while Ocean Power
Delivery (OPD) plan their 750kW Pelamis device on a similar timescale. A new
Government-backed test centre on Orkney will provide useful testing
resources to both developers.
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Orecon
• Multiple oscillating water column device on buoy
• Consortium of Plymouth University, fabricator Cornish Steel, marine
engineers Plimsoft, and German turbine manufacturer IBK
• Completed one-year trial off Plymouth Sound funded by £292,500 EU grant
and £49,800 DTI grant
• Plans a 10MW array by 2006 “if all goes well”
• Hopes to build a 100MW array by 2015, possibly before 2010
• Predicts cost of about 5p/kWh
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In Ireland, the Marine Institute and Sustainable Energy Ireland are currently
jointly undertaking a consultation exercise with a view to building a consensus
around a strategic approach to wave energy development in Ireland. This
consultation exercise will run from November 2002 to February 28th 2003.
C A S E S T U D Y 1 : P A C I F I C O Y S T E R F A R M
The farm is of course right on the coast in an exposed site. If wave energy systems
develop enough in the coming years it might be of benefit to have a system in place
on the shore below the holding tanks. Such a system would have negligible visual
impact, as the farm would conceal it. The electricity generated could be used by the
farm and excess sold to the grid. The development of small-scale systems like this
may be a few years off yet, but will be possible.
C A S E S T U D Y 2 : R A I N B O W T R O U T F A R M
C A S E S T U D Y 3 : M A R I N E R E C I R C F A R M
Wave energy may have a lot to contribute to this farm in the future. The high-
energy costs make large-scale projects such as a wave energy turbine more viable.
Again because of the farm location the turbine would not have any visual impact
and could be recessed in against the shore. Such systems are already used in
desalination plants and on isolated islands, so the technology is proven. The cost
would add a not insignificant amount to the already expensive project but payback
could be within 8 years given the potential to sell to the local grid. Electricity is in
short supply in coastal areas especially in the northwest of Ireland.
Wave energy offers real potential for coastal-based aquaculture facilities. The
technological advances being made in this field should be keenly observed in the
future. The University of Limerick has begun a major project assessing the
potential of this technology in partnership with Japan.
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Hydraulic Ram Pumps use the inertia of moving water rather than water
pressure to lift water to a higher elevation. The pump operates in a cycle as follows:
1. When the waste valve is opened, water flows from the source through the
intake pipe and out the waste valve.
2. After a short time, the velocity of the flow is high enough to force the waste
valve closed. The water, due to its inertia wants to continue past the valve and
as the pressure increases it forces the check valve open allowing water into the
air chamber, compressing the air bubble inside the chamber. It is this air
bubble that will force the water out through the outlet pipe.
3. When the check valve opens the pressure surge is spent and the water will try
and flow backwards, but the check valve closes again preventing this from
happening. The water flows out through the outlet pipe.
4. The waste valve now opens again and the whole cycle starts again.
Air Chamber
1. 2.
Outlet pipe
Waste Valve
Check Valve
Water Inlet 3. 4.
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The hydraulic ram can deliver around 4m3 of water/day, which is relatively small
for aquaculture purposes. It can, however, deliver water to an elevation 100m
above its source and is virtually maintenance free.
High Lifters can pump larger volumes of water than hydraulic ram pumps. They
can move volumes of up to 200m3/day depending on the head. High lifters are also
generally quieter in operation than hydraulic ram pumps. The high lifter uses head
pressure instead of momentum in a downhill pipe. It uses a large volume of low-
pressured water to pump a smaller volume
of water at a higher pressure. A large piston
acts with a smaller one to gain mechanical
advantage. A collar inside the pump controls
the inlet valve. As the pistons reach the end
of their stroke, they contact this collar,
pushing it until it directs a small amount of
water to the end of the spool in the pilot
valve, thereby shifting it and changing the
direction of the water flow in the pump. The
A High Lifter Pump
flow moves the two-way pistons in the
opposite direction until they again contact
the collar, which shifts the pilot valve again, and the process repeats itself. The high
lifter has a number of advantages over the hydraulic ram pump including its ability
to be used in low flow situations. It could possibly be used on trout farms with a
high head for diverting water back through the system.
How applicable this technology is to aquaculture has yet to be seen and is certainly
site dependent. However, the application of new pumping technology is something
definitely worth keeping abreast of.
33
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U S A G E I N A Q U A C U L T U R E
D I D Y O U
K N O W ?
SOLAR POWER
The German government
has invested £280 million "Following the sun, we left the Old World." Christopher Columbus
in solar power.
T
he amount of solar energy, which reaches the earth’s surface each year, is
around 20,000 times current global energy consumption. Whilst it is not
practical to convert all of this to usable energy, if we could just convert a
fraction of this solar radiation there would be no more energy problems.
Many people presume that our climate in the Northern Hemisphere is not suitable
to solar power, yet in Ireland and the UK
it is possible to achieve
1000kWh/annum per m2 of photovoltaic
(PV) cells. In fact, the amount of solar
energy that falls on the UK and Ireland
every year is equivalent to more than 700
times our total electricity needs. Solar A Solar PV cell
panels produce electricity all year round.
They work best when the sun is at its
brightest, but also produce electricity on cloudy days, in the winter, in the snow and
even when it’s raining. There are two predominant methods of extracting energy
from the sun, solar water heating and the use of photovoltaic cells.
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building or in a position to get full sunlight. There are basically three types of
collectors: flatplate, evacuated-tube and concentrating. A flatplate collector, the
most common type, is an insulated weatherproofed box containing a dark absorber
plate under one or more transparent covers. Evacuated-tube collectors are made
up of rows of parallel, transparent glass tubes. Each tube consists of a glass outer
tube and an inner tube or absorber covered with a selective coating that absorbs
solar energy well but inhibits radiative heat loss.
The air is withdrawn (‘evacuated’) from the space
between the tubes to form a vacuum, which
eliminates conductive and convective heat loss.
Concentrating collectors are usually parabolic
troughs that use mirrored surfaces to concentrate
the sun’s energy on an absorber tube containing a
heat-transfer liquid.
Solar collectors on roofs in a
Most commercially available solar water heating housing estate in Scotland
systems require a well-insulated storage tank.
Some solar water heaters use pumps to recirculate warm water from storage tanks
through collectors and exposed piping. This is generally to protect the pipes from
freezing when outside temperatures drop to freezing or below. A system could pay
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U S A G E I N A Q U A C U L T U R E
for itself in 2-3 years and dramatically reduce your heating bill
thereafter. Whilst these collectors can be purchased they can also be made using
standard materials. The recent surge in the number of swimming pools heated by
solar water heating systems indicates the viability of heating large volumes of water
using this type of energy.
Solar Electricity
The most common form of solar power is in converting sunlight directly into
electricity. This is achieved by the use of what are called photovoltaic cells (photo =
light, voltaic = electricity; PV for short). When sunlight strikes a PV cell, electrons
are dislodged, creating an electric current. Photovoltaic cells are made primarily of
silicon, the second most abundant element in the earth’s crust, and the same
semiconductor material used for
computers. When the silicon is
combined with one or more other
materials, it exhibits unique
electrical properties in the presence
of sunlight. Electrons are excited by
the light and move through the
silicon. This is known as the
photovoltaic effect and results in dc
electricity. PV cells power many of
the small calculators and
wristwatches in every day use. More
complex systems provide electricity
to pump water, power
A PV array at an electricity generating station in
California communications equipment, light
homes and business and run
appliances. Because electricity is produced in the form of dc current it can be fed
directly into a battery, as in the case of a calculator, or can be converted with an
inverter into ac for powering mains fed appliances. Whilst solar power in temperate
climates is often the most expensive of
options for those seeking to convert to
renewable energy, the cost of PV
technology has fallen by 80% in the last
ten years. PV cells are not only now
cheaper but are far more efficient at
converting sunlight into electricity. As with
solar water heating systems the PV cells
are situated facing south to absorb as
much sunlight as possible. PV cells are also
A Solar powered navigation buoy
very reliable. This stems from the fact that
the first cells were used in space and had to
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U S A G E I N A Q U A C U L T U R E
be virtually maintenance free. Modules have no moving parts and a life expectancy
of 20-30 years.
There are three basic categories of photovoltaic systems with several types in each
category.
Crystalline silicon flat plate collectors are the most developed and prevalent
type in use today. These include single crystal silicon and polycrystalline silicon that
is either grown or cast from molten silicon and later sliced into its cell size. They are
often assembled into a flat surface and no lenses are used.
Thin film systems are inherently cheaper to produce than crystalline silicon but
are not as efficient at converting sunlight. They are produced by depositing a thin
layer of photovoltaic material on to a substrate like glass or metal. This group
includes amorphous silicon like the kind found in calculators and watches.
C A S E S T U D Y 2 : R A I N B O W T R O U T F A R M
It may be possible in a few years time to have aeration systems running off solar
panels. Aeration systems are used mainly during the summer months when the
panels are at their most effective. Solar collectors could also be used to heat the
water in the hatchery. The growth and development of fish eggs and fry is
intrinsically linked to water temperatures. Increasing the water temperature by just a
few degrees using solar collectors could reduce valuable growing time leading to a
more efficient hatchery operation. All hatcheries have roof areas on which the solar
collectors could be placed.
C A S E S T U D Y 3 : M A R I N E R E C I R C F A R M
Producing solar electricity is unlikely to greatly reduce the large energy bills
associated with the recirc unit. Solar collectors could be used, however, as with the
previous case study to increase water temperature. Water temperature is not only
critical in such a unit for fish growth rate but also for the efficient operation of the
biofilters where bacteria break down the waste compounds. Solar collectors are
relatively cheap to construct and are virtually maintenance free. Again consideration
of the use of solar collectors is better made at the design stage to greatly increase
their effectiveness.
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U S A G E I N A Q U A C U L T U R E
OTHER ENERGY
SOURCES
"Irrigation of the land with seawater desalinated by fusion power is ancient. Its called
'rain'." Michael Mc Clary
A
Number of energy sources, which are not as widespread in use as the
ones previously mentioned but none the less have potential for use in
aquaculture, are now addressed.
Bioenergy
Bioenergy is the process of using biomass (plant and organic matter) to produce
energy. Biomass has been used for lighting, cooking, and heating ever since
humans first discovered fire. Today modern biomass generating plants can produce
hundreds of megawatt-hours of electricity in a manner similar to generating
electricity using fossil fuels. In essence, the fossil fuels are simply replaced with
plant matter as a fuel source, creating a cleaner, renewable energy alternative.
The main sources of biomass for biopower are agricultural waste, forestry waste,
municipal and industrial waste and energy crops. The waste produced each day by a
pig for example would provide enough gas to boil 5 kettles of water!
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Co-Firing is similar to direct firing except for the fact that biomass materials are
burned in combination with a fossil fuel, most often coal, in a high efficiency
boiler. This method is a step towards renewable energy but still relies on fossil
fuels.
Gasification systems are different from the other two methods, in that high
temperatures are used in an oxygen-starved environment to convert biomass into
gas (a mixture of hydrogen,
carbon monoxide and
methane). This gas can
then be used to fuel a gas
turbine or a modified IC
engine, which turns an
electrical generator. A
system in use at the ECOS
centre in Ballymena is an
example of a gasification
The author examining a willow powered gasification system in use at system where coppice
the ECOS centre, Ballymena. willow is grown sustainably
to provide biomass for a
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U S A G E I N A Q U A C U L T U R E
50kW CHP plant. The plant produces electricity and heat in a carbon neutral
manner for use in the centre. A simpler gasification system often in use on
smallholdings uses a methane digester to convert animal waste into methane for
direct use.
Methane Digesters
T
The optimum temperature for mesophilic
digestion is around 38oC (100oF), for
thermophilic digestion around 55oC (130oF). The
gas given off can be collected in a gas holder and
used. Methane digesters are used world wide and
run effectively if there is a good source of waste
nearby i.e. pig slurry, chicken litter, cow slurry.
They are currently being used for the digestion of
solely fish offal in countries like Canada and the Biotherm International, New Brunswick CA
U.S.A.
Landfill sites are also a source of free methane gas although most aquaculture
operations are sited well away from landfill for obvious water quality reasons.
It may be possible to use compacted sludge from fish farm effluents to power a
methane digester. This could be of particular benefit in high load recirculating units
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U S A G E I N A Q U A C U L T U R E
farming species such as eels. The resulting methane could be used to heat water
giving higher growth rates, or generate electricity to offset energy costs involved in
the pumping. One of the main reasons that methane digesters are not yet
commonly found in Ireland is the high capital investment necessary for the setting
up of a viable unit.
Biopower use is very popular in China and India and is slowly gaining acceptance
as a competitive form of energy production in the United States.
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U S A G E I N A Q U A C U L T U R E
Hydrogen Power
The use of hydrogen power may seem like something confined to sci-fi films and
NASA, but the potential is now right on our doorstep. Hydrogen power has also
been associated with weapons of mass destruction but thankfully efforts these days
are on adapting hydrogen power to everyday energy production. Hydrogen power
in this context does not refer to splitting its atom but using hydrogen gas as an
energy source.
One of the benefits of using hydrogen power in the aquaculture industry is that a
by-product is pure oxygen. Hydrogen and oxygen can be produced from water
using electricity with an electrolyser. Making and storing oxygen and hydrogen is
not kid’s stuff, remember it literally is rocket fuel. Although electricity is used to
generate the fuel this can be supplied from any of the sources we have already
discussed such as wind or sun.
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U S A G E I N A Q U A C U L T U R E
GEOTHERMAL POWER
Geothermal power is another
energy source, which we are
not too familiar with in
Ireland. The geothermal
resources of Iceland and
Hawaii are well known and
utilised heavily in those
countries for a myriad of uses
including aquaculture. There
are also geothermal resources
in Ireland. The geological
department of UCC has
conducted numerous tests on
geothermal water in a hidden
The “Blue Lagoon”, Iceland with a geothermal power plant in the
valley underneath the city of background
o
Cork. The water is some 4 C
warmer then normal groundwater and they are now examining the possibility of
harnessing this heat in new buildings in the city.
There are approx. 29 geothermal springs in Ireland where warm water has risen
through faults in the earth’s crust. The temperature of these springs ranges from
13-22oC. A spring in Mallow comes to the surface at 20oC and is used to heat the
local swimming pool. The system is essentially an open loop system in that water is
pumped from the spring to an internal heat exchanger. In Dublin buildings in the
east end of Trinity College are heated by heat pumps drawing on 12oC water
beneath the bedrock. The energy saving is estimated at 2GWh/annum. Cities and
large towns are thought to add up to 3oC to the temperature of their underground
water through heat transfer. Ireland is currently part of an EC THERMIE project
entitled the ”Promotion of the use of Geothermal Energy from proven
Aquifers and matching of this energy to existing or potential heat users.”
Aquaculture has long realised the importance of tapping into groundwater supplies
given the constant temperature and sterility of
the water. Imagine if a facility could access
water at 15oC all year around. Heating and
energy costs would be dramatically reduced
and growth rates optimised.
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U S A G E I N A Q U A C U L T U R E
Environmental
Considerations
"Global warming is no longer a distant threat, it’s as real, as clear and
present an issue, with profound effects on peoples lives, as war and peace or
recession and poverty – and the effects are only just beginning to be felt."
Al Gore
W e all use electricity but rarely stop to think about how it is generated
and the impact it has on the environment. Without the exploitation
of fossil fuels over the past 200 years the rise of the Western
economies and societies would not have been possible. However, burning
fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and gas, lies at the heart of global climate change,
acid rain and other more localised pollution problems. Experts such as the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have predicted that the
average temperature around the world will increase by between 1 and 3.5
degrees Celsius by 2100, a rate of warming greater than at any time over the
last 10,000 years. Action needs to be taken to prevent this climate change, and
the combustion of fossil fuels should be the first aspect to consider, as it
accounts for about 85% of global CO2 emissions. The consequences of the
Kyoto Protocol are probably the most important driver for the use of
renewable energy now and for the foreseeable future.
The majority of electricity produced in Ireland and the UK is coal, oil and gas
powered with use of turf and hydropower as well. Apart from hydropower,
which is renewable, all these other methods of producing electricity have a
profound effect on our environment. As the world warms, the climate in the
UK and Ireland will change. Without major changes it is estimated that by
2020 the climatic zones in the UK will shift 200km northward. This means a
northward shift of natural habitats, wildlife species and farming zones by about
50-80km per decade! There will be an average temperature increase of 1 degree
and annual precipitation will increase by 5%, leading to more droughts in the
drier southeast and flooding in the wetter northwest. Though these changes
might benefit some industries, such as tourism, the changes for others such as
aquaculture could have adverse effects, e.g. on water resources. Currently, the
UK and Ireland are blessed with the warm effects from the Gulf Stream.
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Changes in water currents could lead to the disappearance of the Gulf Stream
and leave Ireland and the UK in a weather system more akin to Newfoundland
than the Mediterranean. This precarious position makes Ireland and the UK
particularly vulnerable to sudden climate changes.
Carbon dioxide is only one of the by-products from burning fossil fuels.
Nitrogen and sulphur dioxide contribute to the problem of acid deposition
causing forests to die, lakes to become acid, as well as widespread damage to
upland landscapes. These pollutants also lead to health problems for humans.
Research on the impact of pollutants linked to fossil fuel burning suggests that
breathing urban air costs each city dweller, on average, a year from their lives.
Additionally the problem of resource depletion has to be considered.
Estimates show that every year as much oil is used as it takes nature to create
in 1 million years.
Ireland and the UK are prime locations for developing renewable energy
generation such as wind or wave power. The UK wind resource is 28 times
larger than that of Denmark, though only six times bigger in size. However,
Denmark is far ahead in producing electricity through wind, having set a target
of supplying 10% (1500MW) of its total demand by 2005 as part of a total
renewable energy target of 12%. The UK currently produces only 0.25% of its
electricity from wind, but it could reach a target almost twice as high as
Denmark’s.
As we have shown, wind is not the only renewable energy source, and even
with Ireland’s climate solar power is a significant resource. There is large scope
for using photovoltaic cells, and examples such as roof-mounted PVs in Berlin
suggested that 30% of the city’s current electricity needs could be met from
this source. ‘Solar shingles’ have been developed in Michigan, USA by Energy
Conversion Devices. 100 times thinner than traditional solar panels, they are
easily installed on roofs at an estimated half the prize of conventional PVs.
The methods described in this report show the utilisation of renewable energy
in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner. Hydropower, which is
the most controversial of renewable energy sources, only has an impact with
large-scale operations and these are not the type for consideration by an
aquaculture farm. Aquaculture operations are only too aware of environmental
concerns and have strived in the recent past to improve the image of the
industry. Aquaculture is amongst the most stringently policed industries, and
licensing is the strictest in any food production sector. The positive
environmental image that coincides with the use of renewable energy furthers
the claim of aquaculture to be one of the greenest food producing operations
in the world. It is one further step into an even greener future and wider public
acceptance of the sector.
Using renewable energy reduces greenhouse gas emissions contributing to a
healthier environment. Renewable energy provides the sustainable platform for
energy production in the future.
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Conclusion
"We want to inherit a clean earth. Why shouldn’t we be allowed to live as
you did when you were little?” Children’s Conference Bergen 1990
R
enewable energy is not a quick fix for any aquaculture operation. It will not
reduce your energy costs and supply all the electricity you need without a
great deal of planning, patience and time. Most renewable energy
technologies are installed by individuals or companies with a passion for
striving to help the environment in the long term.
We have seen that certain technologies lend themselves to different sites and
aquaculture operations. The pacific oyster farm has low energy usage and therefore
low electricity costs. Ensuring that the premises and equipment are efficient may
reduce the energy bill by 10%, which is more than any renewable technology could
do at present on the farm. A small wind turbine or solar collector may reduce costs
further. Marine base shellfish hatcheries may benefit further by using solar
collectors for their warm water needs.
The Rainbow Trout farm is unlikely to benefit from solar electricity until PV units
become more effective. The farm could benefit by using solar collectors to heat the
water for its hatchery or even fry. The largest potential lies in the utilisation of
hydropower given the volume of water available on site. Whether one turbine or a
series of smaller turbines is more effective depends entirely on site and energy
requirements.
The marine recirc facility has by far the greatest energy demand and usage. Wind
and wave power may be viable given the operating cost of energy per annum. The
installation of such systems requires a large capital outlay but this can be recouped
within a period as short as 6 years.
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Whether renewable energy has a role to play in aquaculture in Ireland is still up for
discussion. Implementing renewable energy sources in aquaculture operations
could be used as very positive PR to improve the public image of aquaculture.
Promoting a ‘green’ image can have considerable benefits. If nothing else, however,
aquaculture installations should strive to be energy efficient and thus reduce costs,
saving money and increasing profit.
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Useful Contacts
Ark Nursery, Burdatien, Clones, Co. Monaghan, Tel: 047 52049, Fax: 047 52295,
Website: www.ecoflo.ie. The authors would like to thank Marcus McCabe for kindly
providing the windmill photograph for the CD cover.
Centre for Alternative Technology, Machynlleth, Powys Sy20 9AZ. Tel. (01654)
702400, Fax. (01654) 702782. Email. Info@catinfo.demon.co.uk Website:
http://www.cat.org.uk
An excellent source of information on all types of renewable energy. Publish
information booklets and hold training weekends.
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Cork City Energy Agency, The Lord Mayors Pavilion, Fitzgeralds Park,
Mardyke Walk, Cork, Tel/Fax: +353 21 363749, Website:
http://www.corknrgy.com/
The main aims of the agency include promoting rational use of energy in all sectors of
Cork city and encouraging the development of renewable energy. The targeted sectors
are the domestic, transport, industrial/commercial and schools sector.
Electricity Supply Board, Lr. Fitzwillam St, Dublin 2, Ireland. Tel 1850 372
372.Website: www.esb.ie , Email goldmine@mailesb.ie
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Energy Saving Trust, Contact through Belfast Energy Efficiency Advice Centre,
1-11 May Street, Belfast BT1 4NA, Tel: 02890 240 664, Fax: 02890 246 133, Email:
Ireland@est.co.uk; Webpage: http://www.est.org.uk
The Energy Saving Trust (EST) was set up after the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro,
to help reduce CO2 emissions in the UK. It is a non-profit organisation funded by
governments and the private sector.
European Wind Energy Association, 26 Spring St, London W2 1JA. Tel. (0171)
402 7122, Fax. (0171) 402 7125. Website: http://www.ewea.org
Galeforce Wind Turbines Ltd., Unit P8 Enkalon Ind Est, 25 Randalstown Rd,
Antrim, BT41 4LD. Tel. (028) 94 464301, Fax. (028) 428835. Email:
info@galeforce.nireland.co.uk Website: http://www.galeforce.nireland.co.uk
Agents for the Fortis range of wind turbines.
GB Windpumps, 22 Innox Hill, Frome, Somerset, BA11 2LW, UK. Tel. (01373)
454633. Email: gbwindpumps@supanet.com
Install wind pump systems.
Gilbert Gilkes & Gordon Ltd., Canal Head, Kendal, Cumbria, England LA9
7B2. Tel. +44 (0) 1539 720028, Fax. +44 (0) 1539 732110. Website:
http://www.gilkes.com
Suppliers of micro hydro systems.
Grundfos Pumps Ltd, Unit 34, Stillorgan Industrial Pk, Blackrock, Co.
Dublin. Tel. (01) 2954 926.
Suppliers of solar powered pump systems.
Home Power Magazine, 312 North Main St, Phoenix, Oregon 97535, UUSA.
Tel +1 541 512 0201, fax. +1 541 512 0343. Website:
http://www.homepower.com
An excellent magazine and website with downloadable articles on building your own
renewable energy systems.
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Mayo Energy Agency; Unit 1, The Quay, Ballina, Co Mayo, Tel: +353 96
74034, Fax: +353 96 72950, Website:
http://www.hompage.eircom.net/~mayonrg
Met Eireann, Glasnevin Hill, Dublin 9, Ireland. Tel. (01) 8064200, Fax. (01) 806
4247.
The Irish Meteorological Service. Provide information on wind speed and sunlight hours
for specific stations.
Northern Ireland Electricity, 120 Malone Rd, Belfast BT9 5HT, Northern
Ireland. Tel (028) 90661100, Website: www.nie.co.uk
Pre-Cast Products Ltd, Ballindud, Tramore Rd, Waterford, Ireland. Tel. (051)
374048, Fax. (051) 371077.
Agent for Poldaw windpumps. 3.5m and 5.0m
Renewable Energy Office (N.I), 1 Nugents Entry, Off Townhall St, Enniskillen,
Co. Fermanagh, BT74 7DF, Northern Ireland. Tel 048 66328269, Fax 048
66329771. Email: reoni@dial.pipex.com.
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Scoraig Wind Electric, Hugh Piggot, Scoraig, Dundonnell, Ross shire, Scotland
IV23 2RE. Tel. (01854) 633286. Email. Hugh.piggot@enterprise.net
Author of numerous books including the excellent It’s A Breeze! and Windpower Workshop.
(Essential reading for those considering using windpower). Specialist in small scale wind
turbine systems.
Solar Sense, c/o The Environment Centre, Pier St, Swansea SA1 1RY. Tel.
(01792) 371690, Fax. (01792) 371390.
Suppliers of solar heating and electrical systems
Solar Twin Ltd, 15 King Street, Chester, CH1 2AH, England, UK,
Tel: +44 (0) 1244 403 404 Fax: +44 (0) 1244 403 654, Webpage:
http://www.johnston.u-net.com/ UK based company selling domestic solar
heating systems.
Sonairte - National Ecology Centre, The Ninch, Laytown, Co. Meath, Ireland.
Tel. (041) 9827572, Fax. (041) 9828130. Email: sonairte@drogheda.edunet.ie
A renewable energy park and ecology centre.
Sustainable Energy Ireland, Shinagh House, Bandon, Co. Cork, Ireland. Tel
(023) 42193,Fax (023) 41304. Website http://www.irish-energy.ie
An excellent website and the first port of call for anybody interested in renewable energy.
Numerous leaflets and explanatory booklets available on everything from hydropower to
anaerobic digesters; free publications.
Tipperary Energy agency Ltd, Education Centre, Church St., Cahir, Co.
Tipperary, Ireland, Tel: 052 43090, Fax: 052 43102, Website:
http://www.homepage.eircom.net/~tea/savenergy/
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