Enhancing Climate-Resilient Aquaculture in Yunlin County, Taiwan: A Comparative Analysis of Aquavoltaic Systems and Conventional Methods

The escalating frequency of climate-related disasters underscores the imperative need for robust adaptive strategies to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events. Crafting effective adaptive solutions, however, presents a formidable challenge. This research investigates the potential of aquavoltaic systems to enhance adaptive capacity and promote low-carbon production in fishing villages grappling with climate change. Focused on clam farming in Yunlin County, Taiwan, our study builds innovative Water-Energy-Food-Land-Climate (W-E-F-L-C) Nexus models using system dynamics (SD) techniques to compare the synergistic benefits and resource utilization efficiency between aquavoltaic systems and conventional aquacultural methods. This study meticulously catalogues factors from SD models and incorporates them into a comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) to scrutinize the environmental impacts of both aquavoltaic and conventional systems. Carbon emission data is rigorously calculated by LCA, revealing the carbon emissions flow resulting from interactions between these factors. Additionally, this study conducts a scenario analysis to gain insight into how aquavoltaic and conventional aquacultural systems respond to key influencing factors such as temperature and rainfall. Our findings underscore that elevated temperatures and intensified rainfall significantly impact conventional clam farming compared to the aquavoltaic system. Aquavoltaics emerges as a robust and viable mechanism for aquaculture in the face of capricious weather conditions. Particularly noteworthy is the effectiveness of solar panels in intercepting and diverting rainwater during heavy rainfall in summer, reducing the risk of diluting pond water and thereby stabilize water quality. The shading effect induced by photovoltaic installations also contributes to moderating water temperatures, especially under direct sunlight. By synergizing physical mechanisms with advanced simulation techniques, this study propels toward a more efficient and resilient paradigm in aquaculture. Aquavoltaics demonstrate promising potential for sustainable and low-carbon production as well as promoting the resilience of fishing villages. This study not only illuminates the intricate dynamics of climate-resilient aquaculture but also stands as a milestone for the development of sustainable aquaculture practices.