Environmental performance of near-zero discharge recirculating aquaculture systems: an exergoenvironmental assessment
AQUACULTURE INTERNATIONAL, cilt.34, sa.6, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 34 Sayı: 6
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s10499-026-02620-0
- Dergi Adı: AQUACULTURE INTERNATIONAL
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, Geobase, INSPEC, Zoological Record, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Natural Science Collection (ProQuest), Earth, Atmospheric, & Aquatic Science Collection (ProQuest)
- Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Near-zero discharge recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) are increasingly promoted as biosecure and water-efficient technologies that reduce local environmental impacts. However, their high energy consumption can significantly affect the overall environmental footprint. This research presents a comprehensive exergoenvironmental analysis of a commercial-scale, near-zero discharge RAS focused on turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) production. The study aims to quantify environmental impacts at both the component and stream levels by integrating life cycle assessment (LCA) with the specific exergy costing (SPECO) methodology. The operational phase was found to be the primary contributor to the environmental impact, accounting for 98.9% of the total burden, whereas capital investment accounted for only 1.1%. Component-level analysis identified the circulation pump as the largest hotspot, with a total impact rate of 634.5 mPts/h, followed by the chiller unit at 420.5 mPts/h and the oxygen generator at 417.5 mPts/h. Stream-level assessment revealed that the specific environmental impact of the main circulated water stream increased by 56% throughout the cycle, rising from 182.3 mPts/kWh at the tank outlet to 285.8 mPts/kWh at the tank inlet. The total environmental impact associated with the final product was determined to be 1227.4 mPts per kilogram of harvested turbot. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated that transitioning to renewable electricity sources could reduce the environmental footprint by 64.3%, reducing it to 438.2 mPts/kg. These findings indicate that improvements in the environmental performance of near-zero discharge RAS should prioritize operational energy efficiency and electricity decarbonization rather than material substitution strategies.