Bioelectrochemical-Augmented Hybrid PV-Battery System for Off-Grid Aquaculture Internet of Things Monitoring

Abstract

Internet of things (IoT)-based monitoring in aquaculture presents significant challenges in remote, off-grid environments where conventional power infrastructure is unavailable. Reliable, continuous and environmentally sustainable energy sources are essential for ensuring autonomous sensor operation and data collection integrity. This study proposes a hybrid energy harvesting system that integrates photovoltaic (PV) panels, lithium-ion batteries and Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) as a novel bioelectrochemical energy source for distributed aquaculture monitoring networks. The MFC subsystem (0.01 L flat-plate configuration, operating at 4.7 k$\Omega$ optimal resistance with optimal generated power up to 6.657 nW) generates bioelectrochemical power for parallel battery supplementation. Experimental evaluation under realistic IoT load conditions demonstrates that the bioelectrochemical-augmented hybrid system successfully maintains stable autonomous operation while reducing lithium battery discharge burden by 6.1% throughout complete discharge cycles directly extending battery operational lifespan. This reduction decreases electronic waste, minimises carbon footprint through extended battery lifecycle and reduces pollution and environmental burden. This work demonstrates that bioelectrochemical energy integration is technically viable for aquaculture monitoring and similar off-grid IoT applications, establishing MFCs as a sustainable alternative energy source for greener and more resilient remote sensing infrastructure.