Digital technology company ABB has won a contract from Arctic Offshore Farming to power its first-ever remote controlled submersible offshore salmon farm in the Arctic Ocean.
The submerged fish pens are less prone to sea lice which have been linked to a decline in salmon production in Norway – one of the top salmon exporters in the world. The offshore farm located in the Norwegian Sea outside Troms will have a lower environmental footprint.
“This unique concept is the perfect platform for ABB to share its vision of building a sustainable and efficient aquaculture industry,” said Kevin Kosiko, managing director ABB Energy Industries.
“The unmanned fish pens will be remotely controlled by a feed barge located 400 metres away. This reduces the need for human intervention and thereby cuts fuel and electricity consumption and will also enable new solutions for fish farming offshore and onshore with a focus on fish welfare, traceability and food safety.”
The region is more vulnerable to extreme weather and wave conditions than traditional farms that are located inside the region’s fjords. To counter this, ABB is supplying a pontoon ballast water system that will ensure that the fish pens are kept stable in the harsh Norwegian Sea.
ABB will also design control and monitoring systems complete with sensors and automation technology that enable the pens to be operated remotely. The entire solution will be in place by the end of the third quarter of 2020.
