Environmental and economic assessment of mariculture systems using a high share of renewable energy sources.

Increased demand for fish products has resulted in greater investment in and modernization of the aquaculture sector. These processes have led to higher energy needs of aquaculture farms globally, resulting in their greater environmental impact. Fossil fuel is the main power source in aquaculture, and its combustion generates a large amount of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) and other emissions. This paper considers the use of renewable energy sources (RESs) in mariculture systems to ensure at the same time cost-effective and environmentally friendly powering options. This paper investigates an alternative solution which relocates the majority of equipment and tasks from a mariculture vessel to a barge to reduce the energy demands of the vessel and to significantly lessen emissions of the system. The solution includes the full electrification of the workboat and the installation of PV cells and a wind turbine onboard the barge, combined with a diesel generator in an integrated power system. A Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) was performed to evaluate the considered power system configurations from an environmental point of view, while a Life-Cycle Cost Assessment (LCCA) was performed to evaluate the economic performance of the proposed solutions. The results of the implementation of RESs in the mariculture system indicate an emission reduction of about 20% and an increase in capital costs by 0.61%. Feed reduction and the use of electricity in an alternative mariculture farm design in Croatia increase profitability by 4% in most cases. • The integration of RESs is beneficial for mariculture systems. • LCAs and LCCAs of a mariculture system in Croatia are performed. • The influence of fish feed and staff costs on profitability is considered. • Conventional workboat power systems should be replaced with cleaner alternatives. • Electrification of fishing vessels could reduce the CF of fish farming by about 20%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]