ARS | Publication request: ENERGY MANAGEMENT AND LOAD ANALYSIS FOR AQUACULTURE FACILITIES

Submitted to: Book of Abstracts Aquaculture America
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: December 1, 2004
Publication Date: February 1, 2005
Citation: Pfeiffer, T.J. 2005. Energy management and load analysis for aquaculture facilities [abstract]. Book of Abstracts, Aquaculture America. p. 328.

Technical Abstract: The energy budget is one of the major variable costs in an aquaculture production facility. A load analysis of the site’s electrical use will help target efficiency opportunities and ultimately minimize a facility’s energy costs. Every dollar spent on efficiency measures, such as replacing old, energy-hogging equipment or lighting, will save three to five dollars on the final system costs. A load analysis is easy to perform but slightly time consuming. The idea is to itemize every electricity consuming item and estimate how much each item uses in watt-hours per day. The more complete the list the more accurate the profile will be. Information from a load analysis will help target specific, high consumption loads and draw attention to the electrical habits of the facility. For example, indoor lighting may be used much more in the winter and fans more in the summer. A load analysis may need periodic revision to account for seasonal variations in the electrical use. From the load analysis, efficiency measures may be implemented to use less electricity.