 |
| Taiwan's Aquavoltaics Revolution: Balancing Solar Power and Aquaculture Amid Environmental Challenges Image credit: IEEE Spectrum |
Taiwan’s coastal plain, characterized by a maze of brackish and freshwater ponds, is vital for its aquaculture industry, producing NT $30 billion (US $920 million) worth of seafood annually. The government is now looking to harness these 400 square kilometers of fishponds for a secondary purpose: generating solar power. This innovative approach, known as aquavoltaics, merges aquaculture with solar energy production, offering a potential dual harvest of seafood and renewable energy.
What is Aquavoltaics? Taiwan's Bold Renewable Energy Plan
In Tainan, a 42.9-megawatt aquavoltaics facility is leading the charge. Built by Taipei-based Hongde Renewable Energy, the facility spans 57.6 hectares in the Qigu district, a region rich in fishponds. The company installed solar panels along the berms of 24 ponds, with six reservoir ponds also topped with photovoltaics. These ponds are not just for show—18 are stocked with mullet and shrimp, while milkfish help maintain water quality in the reservoirs. In 2023, the facility produced over 100,000 kilograms of seafood, and plans are underway to expand production indoors, where white-legged shrimp are cultivated under a solar canopy.
Economic and Environmental Potential of Aquavoltaics
Advocates of aquavoltaics see it as a lifeline for Taiwan's traditional fishing communities, which have been declining due to urban migration and climate change. The integration of solar panels with fishponds could revitalize these villages by increasing profitability and providing new economic opportunities. Alan Wu of Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute highlights that these projects could boost revenues by enabling the cultivation of high-value species that are typically difficult to raise. For example, Hongde Renewable Energy's Tainan site produced 27,000 pieces of sun-dried mullet roe last year, and their new indoor facility is expected to generate significant revenue from white-legged shrimp.
Environmental Concerns and the "Double-Seven Incident"
Despite the promise of aquavoltaics, the approach faces criticism from environmental groups. In 2020, concerns over the impact of solar developments on agricultural land led Taiwan’s Ministry of Agriculture to restrict solar installations on farmland—a move dubbed the “Double-Seven Incident” by the solar industry. This decision resulted in the cancellation or delay of many aquavoltaic projects, including a high-profile 10-MW facility in Tainan backed by Google. Environmentalists like Yuping Chen of the Taiwan Environment and Planning Association argue that the government’s goals for aquavoltaics are overly ambitious and may be impossible to achieve without significant environmental trade-offs.
The Global Context and Taiwan’s Unique Challenges
While other countries like China, Chile, Bangladesh, and Norway are also exploring aquavoltaics, nowhere is this combination of aquaculture and solar energy more critical than in Taiwan. The island’s dense population and limited open space make it challenging to find suitable sites for solar installations, pushing the government to consider fishponds as viable locations. By 2025, Taiwan aims to install 4.4 gigawatts of aquavoltaics to help meet its goal of 20 GW of solar generation, a target that is essential for supporting its energy-intensive semiconductor industry.
Future of Aquavoltaics: Balancing Progress with Preservation
As Taiwan presses forward with its renewable energy ambitions, the balance between economic development and environmental preservation remains a contentious issue. Hongde Renewable Energy has taken steps to address conservation concerns by setting aside 9 percent of its site for wildlife, ensuring that species like egrets and endangered oriental storks can continue to inhabit the area. However, environmentalists caution that such measures may not be enough. A review by researchers at Fudan University in Shanghai suggests that large-scale floating aquavoltaic installations could inevitably disrupt marine ecosystems.
Conclusion: The Road Ahead for Taiwan’s Aquavoltaic Initiatives
Taiwan’s aquavoltaic projects represent a bold attempt to reconcile the need for renewable energy with the preservation of traditional industries and natural habitats. As the island nation moves forward, the success of these initiatives will depend on careful planning, environmental stewardship, and a willingness to adapt to the challenges posed by integrating solar power with aquaculture. Whether Taiwan can achieve its ambitious goals without compromising its ecological and cultural heritage remains to be seen.
Article first published: IEEE Spectrum
0 Comments