An appraisal meeting was organized by Huazhong Agricultural University to review the achievements of the "Photovoltaic + Crayfish Pond Efficient Breeding Technology" on July 10.
The meeting gathered experts from the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Hubei Provincial Fishery Research Institute, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau of Xiaogan City, and Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau of Hanchuan City.
Photovoltaic enterprises, aquaculture technicians and association representatives were invited to the photovoltaic fishery demonstration base at the State-owned Huayan Farm in Hubei province for on-site observation as well.
Experts observe the work at a photovoltaic fishery base on July 10, 2024.
Professor Gu Zemao, from the College of Fisheries at Huazhong Agricultural University, said that Guoneng Group and Huazhong Agricultural University jointly tackled the technical difficulties to create this new breeding technology based on the biological characteristics of crayfish, the layout of photovoltaic modules and the transformation of the pond.
The new technology reduced the total shading area by eight to 15 percent compared with traditional photovoltaic models, lowered water temperatures in summer by two to three degrees Celsius, making it suitable for crayfish growth. The pond engineering transformation technology was also developed, which includes operations such as dredging and dike building, supplemented by adding a water inlet and outlet and aeration equipment, which are conducive to the growth of crayfish.
Additionally, underwater grass planting and maintenance techniques under the photovoltaic panels were introduced, beneficial for the growth and health of aquatic plants like Elodea.
The complete "Photovoltaic + Crayfish" breeding technology increased the crayfish survival rate to over 85 percent, with a large-size crayfish proportion of over 70 percent (each weighing over 30 grams), a yield of 200 jin (100 kilograms) per mu (about 0.067 hectares), and a production value of 4,500 yuan ($ 619.2) per mu.
This achievement primarily relies on funding from the National Key R&D Program, Hubei Provincial Key R&D Project, and the technological demonstration project of Guoneng Changyuan Hanchuan Power Generation Co Ltd. It was jointly completed by Huazhong Agricultural University, Guoneng Changyuan Hanchuan Power Generation Co Ltd, and Wuhan Shouyu Aquaculture Technology Co Ltd, and it has been successfully operated at the State-owned Huayan Farm in Hubei province.
This technological achievement effectively combines photovoltaic applications and aquaculture, solving the problem of the low yield from fishery in traditional photovoltaic fishery models that are primarily used to generate electricity.
Through the research and innovation of new varieties, new models, and new technologies for crayfish, it has solved the technical challenges of crayfish farming in high temperatures, facilitating the achievement of "year-round crayfish farming" and increasing farmers' enthusiasm for developing photovoltaic fishery.
It also realizes clean energy and clean production, nitrogen fixation and carbon reduction in the ecological environment, promoting industry yield and efficiency with significant social, ecological, and economic benefits, and has broad application prospects.
