4.2. Challenges and future adoption of RAS systems
One of the greatest reported constraints of RAS is the investment required and the long pay-back periods (on average 8 years). RAS are frequently not economically viable; “encouraging technology” is inevitable, but there must be an economic reason, in relation to an overall “market-need” oriented perspective of the system that ensures technically feasibility as a prerequisite to be economically viable. A good market or social study is needed, in order to
meet with the actual demand, planning an affordable and realistic production goal. Thus, the first requirement is a reliable operation followed by low operating costs. Both conditions will aid recover more rapidly from the first investment: the first obtaining a stable production and, thus, profits; and the second providing a higher margin for the return. Some possible ways or solutions, as given by some of the interviewees, to make these systems “cheaper” are listed below; however, they will need to be investigated further, in terms of operational management and economical viability: