Economic feasibility of hybridizing photovoltaic solar energy with an aquaponics system: An alternative for coexistence in the Brazilian Northeastern semiarid region

The work had as objective to study the economic viability of the hybridization of photovoltaic solar energy with the aquaponics system as an alternative of coexistence in the semiarid Brazilian Northeast. The work was developed in the municipality of Aracoiaba, Ceará, Brazil, in which an aquaponics system of the NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) type implanted with alternative items was built, and a photovoltaic solar energy system to meet the energy demand of the system. In the economic feasibility analysis, a literature-based survey was conducted to size the photovoltaic system and estimate the energy generation over 25 years of operation. Afterwards, it was possible to evaluate the profit generated year by year and to conclude whether the investment is viable or not. The system was dimensioned to attend an estimated monthly consumption of 75 kWh, and presented an installed power of 1.005 kW. With this power, it was observed that in the first years the system will always generate credits for future use. In addition, the unit will be charged only the availability cost equivalent to 30 kWh. Given the above, the development of a low-cost aquaponics system integrated with photovoltaic solar energy to verify the financial viability of the system in a rural application can enable decision making for rural producers living in semi-arid regions such as the Brazilian Northeast.