Aquaculture TCO Comparison Calculator
Flexes energy and feed prices on both options simultaneously, so the comparison stays fair under tariff and feed-price shocks.
Calculator inputs
Results
Option A — 5-year TCO
CAPEX $4,000,000 + 5 × OPEX
Option A — annual operating cost
$1,670,000
Option B — annual operating cost
$1,890,000
Option B — 5-year TCO
$12,650,000
Option A — cost per kg produced
$4.94/kg
Results at a glance
| Output | Pessimistic | Base case | Optimistic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Option A — annual operating cost | $1,865,000 | $1,670,000 | $1,562,000 |
| Option B — annual operating cost | $2,140,500 | $1,890,000 | $1,749,500 |
| Option A — 5-year TCO | $13,325,000 | $12,350,000 | $11,810,000 |
| Option B — 5-year TCO | $13,902,500 | $12,650,000 | $11,947,500 |
| Option A — cost per kg produced | $5.33/kg | $4.94/kg | $4.72/kg |
| Option B — cost per kg produced | $5.56/kg | $5.06/kg | $4.78/kg |
| Lower lifetime cost | Option A | Option A | Option A |
Scenario range
Option A — 5-year TCO
Result summary with the inputs used
Inputs used
- Option A — annual output
- 500 t/yr
- Option A — CAPEX
- 4,000,000 $
- Option A — energy cost
- 420,000 $/yr
- Option A — feed cost
- 900,000 $/yr
- Option A — labour & maintenance
- 350,000 $/yr
- Option B — annual output
- 500 t/yr
- Option B — CAPEX
- 3,200,000 $
- Option B — energy cost
- 610,000 $/yr
- Option B — feed cost
- 980,000 $/yr
- Option B — labour & maintenance
- 300,000 $/yr
- Ownership horizon
- 5 years
Results · Base case scenario
- Option A — annual operating cost
- $1,670,000
- Option B — annual operating cost
- $1,890,000
- Option A — 5-year TCO
- $12,350,000
- Option B — 5-year TCO
- $12,650,000
- Option A — cost per kg produced
- $4.94/kg
- Option B — cost per kg produced
- $5.06/kg
- Lower lifetime cost
- Option A
Energy 25% of OPEX
Energy 32% of OPEX
CAPEX $4,000,000 + 5 × OPEX
CAPEX $3,200,000 + 5 × OPEX
500 t/yr over 5 years
500 t/yr over 5 years
Difference $300,000 over 5 years
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 TCO Comparison Calculator turns option a — annual output, option a — capex, option a — energy cost, option a — feed cost, option a — labour & maintenance, option b — annual output, option b — capex, option b — energy cost, option b — feed cost, option b — labour & maintenance and ownership horizon into option a — annual operating cost, option b — annual operating cost, option a — 5-year tco, option b — 5-year tco, option a — cost per kg produced, option b — cost per kg produced and lower lifetime cost. Purchase price rarely decides which aquaculture option is cheaper. This tool compares Option A and Option B on CAPEX plus five years of energy, feed, labour and maintenance, and reports annual operating cost, cost per kg produced and total cost of ownership so quotes can be judged on lifetime economics. 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.
- Option A — annual output (t/yr)
- Option A — CAPEX ($)
- Option A — energy cost ($/yr)
- Option A — feed cost ($/yr)
- Option A — labour & maintenance ($/yr)
- Option B — annual output (t/yr)
- Option B — CAPEX ($)
- Option B — energy cost ($/yr)
- Option B — feed cost ($/yr)
- Option B — labour & maintenance ($/yr)
- Ownership horizon (years)
- Option A — annual operating cost
- Option B — annual operating cost
- Option A — 5-year TCO
- Option B — 5-year TCO
- Option A — cost per kg produced
- Option B — cost per kg produced
- Lower lifetime cost
- Enter option a — annual output, option a — capex, option a — energy cost, option a — feed cost, option a — labour & maintenance, option b — annual output, option b — capex, option b — energy cost, option b — feed cost, option b — labour & maintenance and ownership horizon.
- 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 TCO Comparison Calculator estimate?
The Aquaculture TCO Comparison Calculator estimates option a — annual operating cost, option b — annual operating cost, option a — 5-year tco 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 TCO Comparison 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
How total cost of ownership is built
TCO = CAPEX + (energy + feed + labour & maintenance) × years; Cost per kg = TCO ÷ (annual output × 1000 × years)
Figures are undiscounted. For investment committee use, discount future operating cost to present value.
Based on: option a — annual output, option a — capex, option a — energy cost, option a — feed cost.
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 TCO Comparison 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
Purchase price rarely decides which aquaculture option is cheaper. This tool compares Option A and Option B on CAPEX plus five years of energy, feed, labour and maintenance, and reports annual operating cost, cost per kg produced and total cost of ownership so quotes can be judged on lifetime economics.
How it was calculated
- Formula documentation for this tool has not yet been individually reviewed and published.
Where each value comes from
- Option A — annual output
- Buyer input
- Option A — CAPEX
- Buyer input
- Option A — energy cost
- Buyer input
- Option A — feed cost
- Buyer input
- Option A — labour & maintenance
- Buyer input
- Option B — annual output
- Buyer input
- Option B — CAPEX
- Buyer input
- Option B — energy cost
- Buyer input
- Option B — feed cost
- Buyer input
- Option B — labour & maintenance
- Buyer input
- Ownership horizon
- Buyer input
Limitations
- This tool has not yet passed the documented-methodology review. Treat every output as an unverified planning estimate.
- TCO here is undiscounted. For a bankable comparison, discount future operating cost to present value and add downtime, replacement and residual value assumptions.
- Compare options at the same output and the same design basis — a cheaper option producing less is not cheaper per kg.
- Indicative planning tool. It does not replace a life-cycle cost study or vendor performance guarantees.
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.
| Option A — annual output | 500 t/yr |
|---|---|
| Option A — CAPEX | 4000000 $ |
| Option A — energy cost | 420000 $/yr |
| Option A — feed cost | 900000 $/yr |
| Option A — labour & maintenance | 350000 $/yr |
| Option B — annual output | 500 t/yr |
| Option B — CAPEX | 3200000 $ |
| Option B — energy cost | 610000 $/yr |
| Option B — feed cost | 980000 $/yr |
| Option B — labour & maintenance | 300000 $/yr |
| Ownership horizon | 5 years |
| Option A — annual operating cost | $1,670,000 |
|---|---|
| Option B — annual operating cost | $1,890,000 |
| Option A — 5-year TCO | $12,350,000 |
| Option B — 5-year TCO | $12,650,000 |
| Option A — cost per kg produced | $4.94/kg |
| Option B — cost per kg produced | $5.06/kg |
| Lower lifetime cost | Option A |
Who should use the aquaculture tco comparison calculator?
Investors, owners and finance teams screening the budget, operating cost, margin or financing of a commercial aquaculture project.
What decision does it support?
Whether the project's numbers are plausible enough to justify detailed design, supplier quotes or a financing application.
What inputs do you need?
- Option A — annual output (t/yr)
- Option A — CAPEX ($)
- Option A — energy cost ($/yr)
- Option A — feed cost ($/yr)
- Option A — labour & maintenance ($/yr)
- Option B — annual output (t/yr)
- Option B — CAPEX ($)
- Option B — energy cost ($/yr)
- Option B — feed cost ($/yr)
- Option B — labour & maintenance ($/yr)
- Ownership horizon (years)
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: Compare two project options on 5-year total cost of ownership and cost per kg. 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.
- Option A — annual output: starts at 500 t/yr
- Option A — CAPEX: starts at 4000000 $
- Option A — energy cost: starts at 420000 $/yr
- Option A — feed cost: starts at 900000 $/yr
- Option A — labour & maintenance: starts at 350000 $/yr
- Option B — annual output: starts at 500 t/yr
- Option B — CAPEX: starts at 3200000 $
- Option B — energy cost: starts at 610000 $/yr
- Option B — feed cost: starts at 980000 $/yr
- Option B — labour & maintenance: starts at 300000 $/yr
- Ownership horizon: starts at 5 years
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
- TCO here is undiscounted. For a bankable comparison, discount future operating cost to present value and add downtime, replacement and residual value assumptions.
- Compare options at the same output and the same design basis — a cheaper option producing less is not cheaper per kg.
- Indicative planning tool. It does not replace a life-cycle cost study or vendor performance guarantees.
Worked example — two 500 t/yr options
- Option A
- $4.0M CAPEX, $1.67M/yr operating
- Option B
- $3.2M CAPEX, $1.89M/yr operating
- Horizon
- 5 years
Option A reaches about $12.4M TCO and Option B about $12.65M, so the higher capital option is cheaper over the horizon.
The ranking reverses at a shorter horizon or a lower electricity tariff — always test both.
Why the cheaper quote is often the expensive option
In aquaculture the purchase price is usually a minority of lifetime cost. Energy for aeration, pumping and oxygenation, feed conversion performance, spare parts and labour accumulate every year the plant runs. A blower package that costs 20% less but consumes 25% more electricity is typically the more expensive choice before the third year of operation.
- Energy tariff and installed kW are the biggest lifetime differentiators.
- FCR differences move feed cost more than any equipment discount.
- Maintenance intervals and spare-part pricing compound over a decade.
- Downtime cost belongs in the comparison even when it is hard to quantify.
Comparing options fairly
Only compare options at the same annual output and the same design basis. If Option B produces less, the cost-per-kilogram line rather than total cost is the honest comparison. Ask both suppliers for guaranteed power consumption, spare-parts pricing for five years and commissioning scope in the same format, then feed those numbers into the model.
Turning the comparison into a decision
Run the comparison once at your base energy and feed prices, then again under the pessimistic scenario. If the ranking of the two options flips, the decision is sensitive to prices you cannot control and you should negotiate performance guarantees rather than purchase discounts.
Aquaculture TCO and cost-per-kg FAQs
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