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A recent study in Communications Earth & Environment explores fishery photovoltaic complementary integration (FPCI) as an innovative solution for solar energy generation. The study investigates the potential of installing solar panels on aquaculture ponds and coastal tidal flats to generate renewable electricity alongside fish and shrimp farming.
Study: Global potential of fishery–photovoltaic integration for sustainable energy and climate mitigation. Image Credit: seaonweb/Shutterstock.com
The new study shows that this dual-use approach could expand clean electricity generation, lower carbon emissions, and support aquaculture growth without requiring major additional land use.
A Dual-Purpose Solution for Energy and Food Production
Global decarbonization efforts continue to accelerate solar photovoltaic (PV) deployment worldwide. However, utility-scale solar projects require large land areas, creating growing competition with agriculture, urban development, and ecosystem conservation. The study identifies this land-use conflict as a major barrier to large-scale renewable energy expansion.
Researchers evaluated the global potential of Fishery photovoltaic complementary integration (FPCI), where elevated PV panels are installed above fish ponds and tidal-flat aquaculture zones, allowing electricity production and aquatic farming to operate simultaneously on the same surface area. The system has the potential to provide ecological benefits by reducing water temperatures and limiting excessive algae growth through panel shading.
Agrivoltaics and floating solar technologies have received growing attention in recent years, but global studies on aquaculture-based PV systems remain limited. This study addresses that gap by providing the first worldwide assessment of FPCI suitability, electricity generation potential, carbon reduction capacity, and economic feasibility.
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Mapping Global FPCI Potential
The researchers carried out a high-resolution spatial assessment at approximately five-kilometer resolution to identify suitable FPCI deployment areas worldwide. They combined multiple global geospatial datasets, including aquaculture pond maps, tidal-flat distributions, elevation data, biodiversity zones, protected areas, and electricity transmission networks.
The team mapped nearly 140,922 km2 of tidal flats and 55,300 km2 of aquaculture ponds globally. These screening criteria helped in identifying areas with strong technical and environmental suitability for PV installation. To estimate electricity generation potential, the researchers used the Global Solar Energy Estimator (GSEE) model with hourly climate and solar radiation data from the ERA5 global reanalysis dataset covering 2000–2023. The model calculated solar power output based on local irradiance, temperature conditions, panel orientation, and system efficiency.
The study used a conservative assumption that PV panels would cover 10 % of suitable water surfaces to avoid overstating deployment potential. To evaluate larger-scale adoption, the researchers also analyzed scenarios with coverage levels ranging from 5 % to 30 % and examined their impact on global electricity generation and carbon reduction. The team then estimated climate benefits by comparing projected FPCI electricity output with the carbon intensity of national electricity grids.
Global Energy, Climate, and Economic Benefits
The study estimates that FPCI could support around 856 GW of global installed solar capacity under the 10 % coverage scenario. Tidal-flat systems account for nearly 57 % of this potential, while aquaculture ponds contribute the remaining 43 %.
Asia dominates global FPCI potential, representing more than 65 % of total capacity due to its large aquaculture sector and strong solar resources.
China leads with an estimated 240.9 GW of potential capacity, followed by India, Indonesia, the United States, and Vietnam. The strongest deployment opportunities appear across East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
The projected annual electricity generation potential is approximately 1266.5 TWh, enough to supply power to nearly 340 million people at average global consumption levels. China alone could generate more than 350 TWh annually, with India and Indonesia also contributing substantial output. The study also shows that seasonal electricity generation patterns align closely with periods of peak energy demand, increasing the practical value of FPCI systems.
The researchers estimate that FPCI deployment could reduce global carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 580 million tons each year. China contributes the largest share of these reductions, followed by India and Indonesia. The economic analysis highlights strong commercial potential for FPCI deployment. India, Egypt, and the United States emerge as especially attractive markets because they combine high technical potential with low or negative generation costs.
The study also highlights several challenges that could affect large-scale FPCI deployment, including potential ecological impacts, biodiversity concerns, marine corrosion, and long-term maintenance demands. In addition, the authors describe the 10 % surface coverage assumption as a conservative global benchmark rather than a fixed deployment target for all regions.
Conclusion and Broader Implications
FPCI could play an important role in the global clean-energy transition. By combining solar power generation with aquaculture, FPCI reduces pressure on agricultural and natural land while making productive use of existing water-based infrastructure.
The findings suggest that FPCI could provide nearly 4 % of the solar capacity required to achieve global net-zero targets by mid-century. Higher deployment levels could significantly increase this contribution. The study identifies China, India, Indonesia, Egypt, and the United States as strong candidates for rapid FPCI expansion because of their favorable solar resources, extensive aquaculture activity, and economic potential. In developing regions, this approach could also improve energy access, strengthen food production, and support local economic growth.
The authors also highlight the importance of developing region-specific environmental planning strategies for sustainable FPCI deployment. Future studies should examine long-term impacts on water quality, aquatic ecosystems, bird habitats, and coastal environments while improving life cycle and site-specific assessments. Overall, the research highlights FPCI as a promising strategy for advancing decarbonization, food security, and sustainable coastal development.
Journal Reference
Ding, Q., Chen, C. et al. (2026). Global potential of fishery–photovoltaic integration for sustainable energy and climate mitigation. Communications Earth & Environment. DOI: 10.1038/S43247-026-03606-9, https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-026-03606-9
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