Breakthrough for pyrolysis technology in aquaculture
The project Terraforming LIFE has received a grant of almost €6.3 million from the Environment and Climate Program of the European Union, LIFE, and it is the first project grant for a primarily Icelandic consortium.
It is a joint project of Icelandic land-based salmon farmer Landeldi hf (now known as First Water), the Farmers' Association, Orkidea, and Olfus Cluster, along with SMJ from the Faroe Islands and associate Blue Ocean Technology from Norway.
The project aims to develop a new method to produce fertiliser and biogas - made from the organic waste that is produced during aquaculture on land and from agriculture.
Pyrolysis technology
"This is done through sludge treatment and pyrolysis technology from Blue Ocean Technology, a system that also enables efficient carbon capture. It strengthens the circular economy of domestic food production, while reducing the carbon footprint and promoting a significantly more positive environmental impact in both agriculture and aquaculture. Pyrolysis is the only established and recognised method for carbon negative effect," said the company's chief executive Hans Runshaug in a press release.
Runar Thor Thorarinsson, project coordinator and representative of Landeldi,
underlines the importance of the extensive collaboration: "This
includes an extremely exciting opportunity for the utilisation of organic side
streams from fish farming on land. The products will benefit the Icelandic
cycle system and improve the environmental impact of aquaculture by producing
not only fertiliser for agricultural production, but also carbon-neutral fuel,
electricity and heat."
Gunnar Thorgeirsson, chairman of the Farmers' Association, believes that the project supports the resilience and independence of Icelandic agriculture and food production.
Fertiliser prices
"One of the biggest challenges we farmers have faced in recent years has been the huge increase in fertiliser prices. This project will reduce its impact by increasing the availability of domestic fertilisers. Farmers are excited about the project, as they want to be at the forefront of developing solutions to the climate problem - and the project reduces agriculture's ecological footprint."
"The project involves a lot of knowledge and technology development for the implementation of the circular economy, which gives us all very exciting possibilities and opportunities for innovation and business development in South Iceland," says Sveinn Adalsteinsson, manager of Orkidea, a joint venture project to promote innovation and investments in food production and biotechnology in South Iceland.
"The project fits well with the priorities of the municipality of Olfus when it comes to business development in the area and the organisation of Green Industrial Parks," said Ellidi Vignisson, mayor of Olfus. "There is an emphasis on the circular economy and to use and reuse all resource currents as much as possible."
The project formally started on June 1, 2023, and lasts for four years
