dc.description.abstract | Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) are developing rapidly as a pathway towards
a more sustainable and efficient aquaculture industry. Such facilities allow for precise
control of parameters involved in fish farming, such as oxygenation units for providing
oxygen and replenish oxygen saturation levels in the recirculated water. In order to
locally supply the oxygen demand to these facilities, water electrolysis technology may
be a complementary solution of which oxygen and heat are secondary products, typically
unutilized in conventional production units, in addition to the main product which is
hydrogen.
To study the synergetic effects of combining RAS facilities for Atlantic salmon and
water electrolysis systems, three pre-defined case studies of varying sizes have been
established with regards to the technical feasibility, impact on the production cost of
hydrogen, as well as sensitivity analyses of relevant economical variables. Simulation of
the alkaline water electrolysis process is also carried out through Aspen Plus software,
and the varying oxygen demand during the growth of Atlantic salmon is modeled for
each case study presented in this report.
The three case studies show considerable economical benefits through scale-up of the
combined facilities. A promising hydrogen production cost of 27.74 kr/kg H2 was
achieved for the largest facility (case 3), producing more than 50 tonnes of O2 per day,
where revenues from oxygen sales and district heating are included. A more detailed
techno-economic analysis, optimization of the general concept, a study of including alternative
energy sources such as wind and solar, as well as further work with the simulated
process in Aspen Plus may be recommended for future studies of the established cases
in this paper. | |