CEO Roger Hofseth of the Hofseth Group wants to use Hyperthermics’ unique biotechnology to achieve an environmentally friendly and profitable treatment of the sludge from the "World Heritage Salmon". (Photo: Tony Hall)

World Heritage Salmon is designed to be the world’s greenest aquaculture facility. A Hyperthermics plant will convert 120,000 tonnes of sludge into energy and saleable proteins at the aquaculture facility itself every year.

“This is a very important letter of intent for us,” says Erlend Haugsbø, CEO of Hyperthermics AS. “Onshore aquaculture facilities and facilities with closed net pens are an important focus area for the company. The aquaculture industry is making a huge effort to be greener, while also creating competitive advantages in relation to production costs, so we can see great potential here. We are particularly pleased that we are being invited by a local company, the Hofseth Group. The project will contribute to considerable value creation for the region and give both Hyperthermics and our local suppliers a unique opportunity for further innovation and growth,” says Haugsbø.

Onshore aquaculture in closed net pens ensures good control over the aquaculture sludge, and there are large volumes that must be managed. Converting the sludge into saleable proteins and energy on site is highly beneficial for operations and generates higher sales revenue. The alternative is expensive, energy-intensive management locally, in addition to the need to transport large volumes of sludge for treatment elsewhere.

This value is generated by Hyperthermics’ unique biotechnology. Archaea are used for mass production of single-celled organisms to enrich the sludge with more proteins. Green bio-hydrogen and green biogas are generated from the same sludge and give energy back to the aquaculture facility. The result is a solution that contributes to lower production costs to World Heritage Salmon, and greener utilisation of potent, fresh fish sludge and residual raw materials.

World Heritage Salmon will be built in a former olivine mine in Raudbergvika (Røbbervika) in Sunnmøre, close to the entrance of the Geirangerfjord World Heritage Site. The planning, construction and operation of the facility are therefore subject to special environmental and emissions requirements.

“We will build the cleanest aquaculture facility the world has ever seen,” says Group CEO Roger Hofseth of the Hofseth Group. “It is exciting to have a local company like Hyperthermics on our team. We believe in the company and their technology. Hyperthermics can be a major supplier to the aquaculture industry.”