Case Study: Aqua Power Technologies
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Innovative technology makes a sustainable splash with fish farms
Eco-I North West funding helps Aqua Power Technologies develop solution to reduce diesel consumption and CO2 emissions
Aqua Power Technologies (APT), based in Grange-Over-Sands, designs, develops and manufacturers innovative and environmentally-sensitive systems for generating power from marine environments.
It was founded by Sam Etherington, an engineer who developed the RWP0001 wave power system while at university, winning him the James Dyson Award in 2013 as well as a British Engineering Award.
With grant support from Eco-I North West, APT has developed a hybrid battery storage system which can help fish farms to reduce diesel consumption and CO2 emissions.
The Challenge
Aquaculture, or fish farming, is a growing industry, expected to reach $262 billion by the end of 2026.
It has the capability of providing us with healthy and nutritious food, and contributing to the solutions of tackling food security issues.
But it also faces challenges in terms of environmental impact and sustainable practices.
These farms generally use near or offshore barges which operate a variety of appliances to act as a life support for the fish such as feed blowers, as well as lights, sensors and cameras.
Traditionally, given their remote location and the expense of installing a permanent source of electricity, these barges are powered by diesel generators which are inefficient, expensive to run and create excessive CO2 emissions.
APT has been working with salmon farms on the west coast of Scotland since 2016 to develop a hybrid solution which converts wave energy to power and stores it.
But 90% of aquaculture sites are in low wave locations, so APT has been developing an alternative solution to reduce the reliance on diesel.
As a small business with limited resources, APT sought the support of Eco-I NW to help fund the development of a prototype.
The Solution
APT has created a hybrid solution which uses rechargeable lithium batteries and a diesel generator.
The system comprises a 184.8 kWh lithium battery array, three phase charger inverter, control cabinet, and real time online telemetry data logging functionality, which will be integrated into the barges power distribution network.
During the day when the farm is using high power applications, such as the feed blowers, it will be powered using the diesel generator.
But this will also charge the batteries, as it is a more efficient use of diesel to charge the batteries when the generator is at a higher working capacity, as opposed to idling. At night - when a lower volume of power is needed for things like computers, navigation lights, seal scares, high power cage lights, cameras, and telemetry systems - the power will be provided by the batteries.
The system charges the batteries within 1.5 hours, using no more than 20 litres of diesel, but provides a gross diesel saving of 80 litres per discharge cycle.
The solution also monitors and logs vital information about loads on the farm and streams the power profile live on the barge.
Farmers can also monitor fuel use and CO2 saving remotely via AquaStat, an online platform.
Meanwhile, APT will be able to monitor, maintain and optimise the system remotely via the same platform.
The Impact
The pilot system on a farm in Scotland produced impressive results.
Generator ‘on-time’ has been reduced by up to 80%, saving up to 180 litres of diesel per day.
This is forecast to provide a net offset of up to 43,800 litres of diesel, valued at up to £31,969 based on current prices per annum.
The hybrid system is also set to reduce emissions by 475.2 kg of CO2 per day, or up to 173,448 kg annually.
This displaces up to 43,800 litres of diesel from being combusted in a marine environment every year.
The success has resulted in APT securing orders for four more hybrid solutions.
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