Powering aquaculture operations at sea: Can hydrogen be a sustainable solution?

Abstract

Marine aquaculture has experienced robust growth in recent years, emerging as one of the fastest-growing industries globally. While coastal aquaculture is the prevailing form, it has caused conflicts among stakeholders due to limited near-coast areas and associated environmental issues. The imperative for increased seafood production, coupled with these challenges, has spurred a growing trend for the industry to venture further away from the coast. However, sustainable and competitive offshore economic activity encounters numerous challenges, with a critical one being the provision of uninterrupted energy far from the coast. This paper aims to provide a concise overview of the energy requirements of an offshore aquaculture farm, review current energy supply solutions, and explore a potentially new solution involving the use of hydrogen as the primary fuel.