Oyster Farming With Solar Power
Tumbling and sorting oysters is one of the most time-consuming jobs on an oyster farm. While some farms transport their oysters to land to perform these tasks, you will see many growers doing this on a float or barge right next to their lease. This saves money and time on transporting oysters and is often a lot cheaper than securing waterfront property. But as any oyster farmer could tell you, running a generator to power the tumbler and wash-down pump is loud, and neighboring properties or boaters in the area may not like the noise it generates.
Max Burtis at Ferda Farms in Brunswick has a way to address some of the issues with tumbling and sorting out on the water. By installing an array of solar panels and battery storage on his float, he is able to power his tumbler and washdown pump completely from solar power. Not only is the set-up very quiet, but it packs enough of a punch to let the Ferda Farms crew tumble quickly and give their oysters a good wash to get them completely mud-free.
How Does the Solar Equipment Work?
The Ferda Farms solar operation consists of six solar panels, a charge controller, current combiner, inverter, and battery bank. When the sun is shining, each of the six panels generates a maximum of 200 watts of electricity. The electricity flows into the charge controller, which displays the output from the panels, then into an inverter (which doubles as a battery charger) that charges the battery bank. Ferda Farms uses eight golf cart batteries as their battery bank. The batteries are 6 volts and have a 100 hour amp-hour rating of 250 Ah. Whenever they need power, electricity runs from the batteries back into the inverter, which changes the current from DC to AC, then over to the tumbler and wash-down pump.
During operation, the solar panels and battery bank power Ferda Farms’ tumbler, as well as their hopper and conveyor belt system (check out our other Innovations article about Ferda Farms' conveyor!). The large washdown pump is used to clean the oysters and wash the float clean at the end of the day. The water supply for the tumbler comes from a small bilge pump underneath the float which does not pull as much energy as the large wash down pump. Even in the winter when sunny days are few and far between, the tumbler could run for a few days straight off of battery power alone.
The Benefits of Solar Power
The benefits of Ferda Farms’ solar-powered float are practical and help build positive public opinion about the farm. The solar tumbling system allows Max’s team to tumble without worrying about gas or running a generator, while still providing enough power to hold up to their high standards for clean oysters. The solar panels even serve a double purpose by offering shade for the oysters and employees while they work.
The silent operation of their solar panels helps Ferda Farms avoid disturbing boaters or neighboring houses. In the near future they hope to make their tumbler even more quiet by coating the outside of the tube with rubber and adding extra supports to the noisiest pieces of metal. In addition to making boaters happy, a quieter farm has the added benefit of letting growers chat while they work, elevating the work on an oyster farm to something that is more enjoyable.
Max also makes sure to leave the float clean for any boaters or kayakers who might come by to see what an oyster float looks like. Ferda Farms finds that their solar panel system helps them avoid disrupting the tranquility of the water that everybody shares, which builds community support for their farming operation. This is especially important because the sight of muddy tumbling floats and sound of loud generators are two of the main reasons that people might oppose aquaculture development.
The Feasibility of Solar on the Water
Despite of all their benefits, solar panels and battery banks are much more expensive than a generator and gasoline. Fortunately, there are a lot of grant opportunities available to fund climate-conscious business decisions. The Ferda Farms solar equipment was funded by a Spark! grant from the Island Institute. Spark! grants fund waterfront projects that focus on renewable energy, marine electrification, and energy efficiency, especially when those projects are highly visible to the public. Without a grant, the upfront costs of installing solar are difficult to work around. A smart use of grant funding, however, makes it possible to switch to renewable power and make money at the same time.
The impacts of growing oysters are indisputably good for the surrounding ecosystems. Ferda Farms are taking that reputation one step farther by eliminating some of the fossil fuels from their tumbling operation. Max even has plans to expand his solar array by adding more panels and switching from lead-acid batteries to new lithium-ion ones. As he expands his growing operation in the next few years, his solar system will be up to the task and continue building the reputation of oyster growers as climate-conscious, respectful members of the waterfront community.
Innovations articles highlight creative devices or methods on aquaculture farms. They are informed by farm visits and interviews with experienced growers. See our About page for more information.