AGHEDO OSAKPANMWAN EMMANUEL

The growing demand for reliable and sustainable energy solutions in Nigeria has driven the need to investigate renewable energy sources for various agricultural uses. This project centers on designing, analyzing, and implementing a 3.5 kVA solar photovoltaic (PV) system to power essential equipment in a small-scale fish farming operation. The study aims to provide an environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternative to conventional power sources such as fossil fuel generators, which are often expensive to maintain and environmentally harmful. The system was designed to power critical loads, including surface and submersible water pumps, lighting systems, and aeration devices, all vital for maintaining healthy aquatic conditions and ensuring efficient fish production. The design process involved detailed load estimation, component selection, and sizing calculations for the solar panels, inverter, charge controller, and batteries. The selected system components included six 350 W solar panels, a 3.5 kVA inverter, two 12 V tubular batteries (250 Ah each), and an MPPT charge controller. Upon installation and testing, results showed that the system provided a stable power output with an average efficiency of 85%, maintaining continuous operation of the fish farm equipment for over 10 hours daily