Aquaculture Generator Sizing Calculator
Flexes load, headroom, site derating, runtime and fuel price.
Calculator inputs
≈3% per 300 m above 1000 m.
≈2% per 5 °C above 40 °C ambient.
Results
Recommended genset
109 kW rated · pf 0.80
Site-derated capacity
92%
Fuel burn
20.4 L/h
Monthly fuel cost
$2,690
Results at a glance
| Output | Pessimistic | Base case | Optimistic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recommended genset | 176 kVA | 136 kVA | 108 kVA |
| Site-derated capacity | 88% | 92% | 96% |
| Fuel burn | 26.5 L/h | 20.4 L/h | 16.2 L/h |
| Monthly fuel cost | $6,288 | $2,690 | $1,089 |
Scenario range
Recommended genset
Result summary with the inputs used
Inputs used
- Critical load to back up
- 80 kW
- Motor-start / step-load headroom
- 25 %
- Power factor
- 0.8 0–1
- Altitude derate
- 3 %
- Temperature derate
- 5 %
- Backup runtime
- 4 hours/day
- Diesel price
- 1.1 $/L
Results · Base case scenario
- Recommended genset
- 136 kVA
- Site-derated capacity
- 92%
- Fuel burn
- 20.4 L/h
- Monthly fuel cost
- $2,690
109 kW rated · pf 0.80
alt 3% + temp 5%
≈ 2,446 L/month
@ $1.10/L, 4 h/day
Planning estimate from the inputs shown — not a supplier quote, guarantee, financing approval, engineering advice or confirmed availability.
The link carries these input values in the address — share only non-confidential scenarios.
Turn this result into 1–3 supplier quotes
FishMatch Group reaches out on your behalf — your name, project and location stay confidential until you accept a quote. No sign-up, no listing fees, buyers never pay.
How supplier matching works
- 1. Private brief. Your spec goes only to manufacturers we have selected for the right category, capacity and export experience.
- 2. Confidential outreach. Suppliers see the technical spec — not your name, company or exact location — until you accept a quote.
- 3. Comparable quotes. Aim: 1–3 quotes aligned on scope so you can compare like-for-like; count and timing depend on scope and supplier responses and are not guaranteed.
- 4. Financing intro (optional). If needed, we introduce your project to a financing partner. No fee to buyers.
In short
Aquaculture Generator Sizing Calculator turns critical load to back up, motor-start / step-load headroom, power factor, altitude derate, temperature derate, backup runtime and diesel price into recommended genset, site-derated capacity, fuel burn and monthly fuel cost. This tool sizes a prime or standby generator for aquaculture from the farm's critical kW load, applies motor-starting headroom and site derating (altitude, temperature), and estimates fuel burn and monthly fuel cost. Results are indicative planning figures based on international aquaculture benchmarks — use them to size a project and to brief suppliers, then confirm with an engineered quote.
- Critical load to back up (kW)
- Motor-start / step-load headroom (%)
- Power factor (0–1)
- Altitude derate (%) — ≈3% per 300 m above 1000 m.
- Temperature derate (%) — ≈2% per 5 °C above 40 °C ambient.
- Backup runtime (hours/day)
- Diesel price ($/L)
- Recommended genset
- Site-derated capacity
- Fuel burn
- Monthly fuel cost
- Enter critical load to back up, motor-start / step-load headroom, power factor, altitude derate, temperature derate, backup runtime and diesel price.
- Read the highlighted result and the supporting figures below it.
- Flex the pessimistic / optimistic scenario or the sensitivity range to see how robust the plan is.
- Send the spec to suppliers as a pre-filled RFQ draft.
What does the Aquaculture Generator Sizing Calculator estimate?
The Aquaculture Generator Sizing Calculator estimates recommended genset, site-derated capacity, fuel burn from the project assumptions you enter. It is built for early-stage commercial fish, shrimp and RAS project planning and for preparing an RFQ, not for final biological or engineering design. Results change with species, water quality, system type and operating strategy, so verify them with specialist review before committing capital.
Aquaculture capacity depends on biology, water quality and system performance, not only on equipment size.
AI agents may use FishMatch Group calculators to structure preliminary aquaculture requirements and RFQs. Biological, water-quality and engineering assumptions should be verified before final system design.
What can change the result of the Aquaculture Generator Sizing Calculator?
These factors move the result more than equipment size does:
- Species and strain
- System type (RAS, pond, cage, tank)
- Water quality limits (TAN, CO₂, solids)
- Operating strategy and staffing
Based on: critical load to back up, motor-start / step-load headroom, power factor, altitude derate.
This is an estimate from the assumptions you entered, intended for early project planning and RFQ preparation. Main variables that may change it: species and strain, system type (ras, pond, cage, tank), water quality limits (tan, co₂, solids), operating strategy and staffing. Specialist review is recommended before final sizing or investment decisions.
Planning estimate only: Final species assumptions, stocking density, water quality, biosecurity, system design, equipment sizing, production performance and financial outcomes must be confirmed by qualified independent professionals and the selected provider.
Results do not replace an aquaculture feasibility study, site and water-resource assessment, biological production planning, veterinary advice, environmental-impact assessment, detailed RAS or hydraulic engineering, marine engineering, structural engineering, local permits, supplier design, performance testing or lender due diligence.
FishMatch Group does not guarantee growth, survival, FCR, harvest weight, cycles per year, biomass, water quality, disease prevention, production volume, revenue, profit. Outputs are not legal, financial, engineering, tax or veterinary advice. Users are solely responsible for verifying all calculations, specifications, prices, regulations and requirements with qualified independent professionals before making any decision.
Supplier and manufacturer listings are provided for research, transparency and discovery only. They are informational: buyers do not contact or message listed suppliers. Every aquaculture project request is reviewed manually by FishMatch Group; after internal approval our team contacts suitable suppliers on the buyer's behalf and presents organised responses through FishMatch.
How this estimate is calculated
Aquaculture Generator Sizing Calculator · calculation version 0.9.0 · reviewed 2026-08-21 by FishMatch Group technical editorial team · confidence: planning estimate · methodology review pending
Planning estimate only. Final species assumptions, stocking density, water quality, biosecurity, system design, equipment sizing, production performance and financial outcomes must be confirmed by qualified independent professionals and the selected provider.
Purpose
This tool sizes a prime or standby generator for aquaculture from the farm's critical kW load, applies motor-starting headroom and site derating (altitude, temperature), and estimates fuel burn and monthly fuel cost.
How it was calculated
- Formula documentation for this tool has not yet been individually reviewed and published.
Where each value comes from
- Critical load to back up
- Buyer input
- Motor-start / step-load headroom
- Buyer input
- Power factor
- Buyer input
- Altitude derate
- Buyer input
- Temperature derate
- Buyer input
- Backup runtime
- Buyer input
- Diesel price
- Buyer input
Limitations
- This tool has not yet passed the documented-methodology review. Treat every output as an unverified planning estimate.
- Add N+1 redundancy for RAS, shrimp and hatchery projects — a single genset failure = crop loss.
- Pair the genset with a UPS on SCADA / sensors and a battery bank on aeration to bridge start-up seconds.
- Compare fuel cost against the Solar ROI calculator.
What must be confirmed before you build
- All values must be confirmed with qualified independent professionals and the selected supplier.
Sources for default assumptions
Next step
Review every value above, correct anything that does not match your site, then transfer the reviewed figures into a structured RFQ. Nothing is sent to any supplier until you approve it. Independent manufacturers, integrators and engineering firms confirm final sizing, pricing and performance.
Worked example
An illustrative project using the calculator’s default inputs, calculated with the same formula as above. Not a real project.
| Critical load to back up | 80 kW |
|---|---|
| Motor-start / step-load headroom | 25 % |
| Power factor | 0.8 0–1 |
| Altitude derate | 3 % |
| Temperature derate | 5 % |
| Backup runtime | 4 hours/day |
| Diesel price | 1.1 $/L |
| Recommended genset | 136 kVA |
|---|---|
| Site-derated capacity | 92% |
| Fuel burn | 20.4 L/h |
| Monthly fuel cost | $2,690 |
Who should use the aquaculture generator sizing calculator?
Farm owners and engineers sizing grid, generator, solar or battery supply for pumps, aerators and other farm loads.
What decision does it support?
What power capacity and energy cost the farm should plan for, and whether backup or solar is worth quoting.
What inputs do you need?
- Critical load to back up (kW)
- Motor-start / step-load headroom (%)
- Power factor (0–1)
- Altitude derate (%)
- Temperature derate (%)
- Backup runtime (hours/day)
- Diesel price ($/L)
Is it for commercial farms or aquariums?
Built for commercial farms, hatcheries and projects. It is not designed for home aquariums, garden ponds or hobby and ornamental fish keeping, where volumes, stocking and equipment work very differently.
Technical checklist
Short answer: Genset kVA The result is a planning estimate calculated only from the inputs on this page — not a supplier quote, design approval or guaranteed outcome.
Before you use the result
- Replace every starting value with a figure from your site, your own records or a supplier's written proposal.
- Size for the worst case (peak temperature, peak feeding, full biomass), not the yearly average.
- Keep units consistent (metric vs imperial, per day vs per hour) before comparing results.
- Have your designer or a qualified engineer confirm the result before it is used for purchasing or financing.
- Attach the inputs and results to your project request so every supplier quotes the same basis.
Sources
No external dataset is built in. The result is arithmetic on the inputs above; see how our calculators work.
Stated assumptions (starting values)
These are only starting points. Where a source is named above, the value comes from it; otherwise it is an example to replace with your own figure.
- Critical load to back up: starts at 80 kW
- Motor-start / step-load headroom: starts at 25 %
- Power factor: starts at 0.8 0–1
- Altitude derate: starts at 3 %
- Temperature derate: starts at 5 %
- Backup runtime: starts at 4 hours/day
- Diesel price: starts at 1.1 $/L
Checklist reviewed 13 October 2026. Ready to price it? Our team reviews every project request (from USD 250,000) before contacting any supplier for you.
Notes
- Add N+1 redundancy for RAS, shrimp and hatchery projects — a single genset failure = crop loss.
- Pair the genset with a UPS on SCADA / sensors and a battery bank on aeration to bridge start-up seconds.
- Compare fuel cost against the Solar ROI calculator.
Genset kVA FAQs
Available in other languages
Other aquaculture calculators
Turn this estimate into a reviewed RFQ
Send the project specification privately. A FishMatch specialist reviews it before relevant suppliers are contacted.
Request a quote