Clean energy solution planned for Scotland’s salmon farmers
A project to develop an energy and cost-efficient power management system for the aquaculture sector has secured up to £129,428 investment from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
The 12-month project aims to research and develop a clean energy storage system, recharged from renewable energy at the shore via a lightweight subsea cable.
It has three main advantages for fish farming: reduced operating costs; lower carbon emissions; and visibility and control capability of fish farm assets. Many salmon farms currently rely on diesel generators for power because they are too remote for electricity connections.
Ocean Kinetics
Shetland-based Ocean Kinetics Ltd is leading the project. The company has expanded into Argyll and established a base at Malin House in the European Marine Science Park (EMSP) near Oban.
Ocean Kinetics is working with MMG Welding Ltd, which provides engineering design, fabrication and installation services to the salmon farming industry in the north west of Ireland. It is also working with Edinburgh-based Stortera Ltd, a technology development business offering smart and flexible energy storage systems.
Funding has been made possible through HIE’s role as a delivery partner in the Co-Innovate programme, which is supported by the European Union’s INTERREG VA Programme. The €14.7 million programme – including €2.2m from HIE - supports innovation and cross-border R&D projects in parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Efficient and responsive
Vicki Hazley, Co-Innovate programme manager at HIE, said: “This collaborative R&D project is about addressing the need for a more efficient and responsive means of using renewable energy in aquaculture. As well as reducing operating costs, it has potential to lead to significant reductions in carbon emissions, helping the industry’s contribution to net zero.”
Ocean Kinetics managing director John Henderson said: “Aquaculture is an important and growing sector for us and like other industries, it must move away from fossil fuels. Key to this will be commercially viable clean power systems. Co-Innovate has allowed us to accelerate our plans to establish a base in Argyll.
“Malin House provides co-location with a number of innovative marine businesses so we are excited to see what possibilities that will bring. Critically, we are executing this focused R&D project in a collaborative fashion, which is essential to solving big problems.”
