Solar Oyster Barge
A Quiet and Environmentally Sustainable Solar Barge System
The Barge
The solar barge is a 26 x 8-foot aluminum flat workspace on top of a metal catamaran hull. The barge’s flat deck provides lots of working space and room for equipment. The catamaran hull provides a stable base for the work platform while enabling the barge to motor through the water when necessary.
Solar Array System
The 2.4-kilowatt solar array, mounted onto a welded metal frame, provides energy to all the barge's systems. The six solar panels send electricity through a charge controller to a bank of marine-grade batteries on the deck. The whole system can be monitored remotely from a mobile phone.
Solar Powered Equipment
The solar array and battery system power the tumbler, winch, and washdown pump. One significant benefit of a solar-powered tumbler is that it’s much quieter than one powered by a generator. Not only does this make the work more pleasant, but it also helps prevent hearing damage from long days tumbling out on the water. An electric winch is critical to their operations. The winch is used during harvesting to lift cages or bags out of the water.
Fuel Everything with Solar
Process shellfish without the fumes, noise, or maintenance of a traditional gas generator.