Multi-purpose ocean energy platforms for offshore aquaculture farms

The Blue Growth strategy was laid out by the European Union (EU) in 2012, with a view to realize sustainable development of the blue economy - based on the oceans, seas and coasts. Along the lines of the Blue Growth strategy, the present work investigates the performance of a multi-purpose platform (MPP) for use in an offshore aquaculture farm. The elements of offshore wind and fish feed storage are integrated in the same platform to support the energy demands of closely co-located aquaculture farms, at a location off the Scottish coast, with a water depth of 81 m. The work presented herein is part of the UK-China Investigation of the novel challenges of an integrated offshore multi-purpose platform (INNOMPP) project (EPSRC Grant no. EP/R007497/1). Concepts involving MPPs in the range of multi-megawatts have been explored in previous studies funded by the EU – namely, the MARINA, ORECCA, TROPOS, H2OCEAN, and MERMAID projects. While deriving from the above mentioned concepts, the present study attempts to identify the suitability of platforms with low power ratings for use in offshore fish farms. The long term goal is to make remote island communities self-sufficient with regards to their economic aspects (via aquaculture) and power needs. The performance of the MPP under coupled aerodynamic-hydrodynamic loading has been investigated within a non-linear time-domain framework. Initial results indicate the suitability of a feed barge as a support platform for a small rated wind turbine to cater to the energy needs of an offshore aquaculture farm.