Development of renewable energy based green hydrogen and oxygen production and electricity generation systems for sustainable aquaculture

Abstract

Fish growth, health, and population density are profoundly affected by oxygen feeding in aquaculture. A novel solar-powered oxygen generator combined with water electrolysis and fuel cells is developed in an integrated fashion to achieve a more sustainable aquaculture and, hence, a more sustainable ecosystem. The proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysers are used in the proposed system to produce oxygen through water splitting process. The hydrogen produced, along with oxygen in the electrolyser, is utilized as the clean fuel in fuel cell stacks for generating electricity to store solar energy for later use. In this way, the sustainable development goals of the United Nations are achieved through cleaner aquaculture operations. The use of the proposed system in five different cities (Asansol, Calabar, Kinshasa, Meki, and Washuk) facing poverty from different countries is considered as case studies and evaluated based on the hydrogen and oxygen production capacities and hence energy and exergy efficiencies. With a solar power plant of 1 MWp, it is possible to produce oxygen 353.8 kg in Asansol, 304.4 kg in Calabar, 308.5 kg in Kinshasa, 382.1 kg in Meki and 431.8 kg in Washuk. The overall energy and exergy efficiencies of the solar-driven system are obtained to be 12.2% and 66%, respectively.