Solar Oysters

Solar Oysters offers an innovative new platform for on-site solar powered automation for oyster aquaculture. Expanding the grow capacity while decreasing the area required to grow oysters and the labor demands. 

Growing Food 150 Yrs Ago

Growing Food Today

A lot has changed... Shouldn't Growing Oysters?

Harvesting Oysters 150 Yrs Ago

Growing Oysters Today

Not much has changed....

Solar Oysters wants to be the John Deere of Oyster Aquaculture.  It's time for a revolution in oyster growing capacity.

Let's Bring back Oysters

Chesapeake Bay oyster landings were 120 million pounds per year at its peak. This picture reflects only the oyster shells. Used with permission from  from the National Archives.

Proof of Concept Complete

The University of MD Center for Environmental Science’s Chesapeake Biological Laboratory partnered with us as part of a Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) grant.

The Future

The current automated design of the full production Solar Oyster system would annually produce approximately
1.5M oysters at 3 inch length.

Benefits

A Higher Yield

Low impact, sustainable shellfish yield…and a higher yield per acre.

Automation

Automates the grow cycle / less labor intensive than traditional float farms.

Maintenance SIMPLE

Allows for ease of access when harvesting, performing biofouling control and system maintenance.

Industry Advancement

Helps advance a growing marine aquaculture industry and aids in economic growth.

Healthy

Enables oyster ultraviolet light exposure to inhibit fouling organisms.

Minimal Visual IMPACT

Operates further from shore, resulting in less viewshed impact.

Less INPUTS

Protein production with minimal to no inputs required such as fertilizer, fresh water, or food.

Water Quality

Improved water quality due to oyster filtering – potential for generating nutrient credits for sale.

Permit Friendly

Ease of permitting compared to traditional float farms.

Self-Powered

Provides sufficient power for ancillary systems; water quality monitoring, platform surveillance, oxygenation; fully integrated spray wash system; navigation lighting, etc.

OUR GOAL

Produce Oysters economically while cleaning the Chesapeake Bay
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Gallery Images