wave #15 · environmentally responsible and sustainable aquaculture. wave insights from veolia...
TRANSCRIPT
WATER TECHNOLOGIES
waveInsights from Veolia Water Technologies
#15
Veolia, a key player in aquacultureAdvanced digital tools reduce riskand improve efficiency
BUILDING ONE OF THE WORLD'SLARGEST SMOLT PLANT - AGAIN!
Underlying technologiesfor successful aquaculture plants
3
Fish farming of the future is hereIn the last three decades, our seafood consumption has dramatically increased and with this, aquaculture, otherwise known as fish farming, has become widely popular to meet domestic and international demand. This combined with the environmental and financial risks of offshore aquaculture create the need for farmers to gain greater control over their operations.
Land-based aquaculture is a solution for aquaculture companies to reduce risk while maximizing profitability.
Utilizing advanced recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) allows farmers to achieve a farm-to-table strategy by locating facilities on land near key markets. This reduces shipping costs and shortens delivery timeframes, while offering consumers a superior, fresh product.
Land-based aquaculture facilities create a means of producing seafood with a minimal impact on the fisheries and the environment, while reducing the carbon footprint of conventional seafood supply chains.
Veolia, a key player in land-based aquaculture
Veolia Water Technologies has been revolutionizing land-based aquaculture for over 20 years. Our experience in advanced water treatment technologies and turnkey RAS system design has been creating a competitive advantage for our clients.
Through world-class water purification technologies and expertise, Veolia Water Technologies and our subsidiaries AnoxKaldnes, Hydrotech, Krüger A/S and Krüger Kaldnes, offer a wide range of solutions that can be tailored to meet the highest standards and provide high-quality, energy-efficient, operationally-friendly water treatment systems.
Read through this issue of WAVE magazine to find out more about solutions for environmentally responsible and sustainable aquaculture.
waveInsights from Veolia Water Technologies
Innovative Water Solutions
Through its innovative solutions, Veolia Water Technologies enables industry, local authorities and citizens to optimize their use of resources for more efficient, environmentally-friendly and socially responsible outcomes.
We understand the importance of increasing the value of water and we do so by supplying high quality water, treating and reusing wastewater, producing and/or recovering energy, extracting raw materials and capitalizing on valuable byproducts.
www.veoliawatertechnologies.com
WATER TECHNOLOGIES
Aquaculture is a critical food source to meet current and future
global consumption requirements
3
Fish farming of the future is hereIn the last three decades, our seafood consumption has dramatically increased and with this, aquaculture, otherwise known as fish farming, has become widely popular to meet domestic and international demand. This combined with the environmental and financial risks of offshore aquaculture create the need for farmers to gain greater control over their operations.
Land-based aquaculture is a solution for aquaculture companies to reduce risk while maximizing profitability.
Utilizing advanced recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) allows farmers to achieve a farm-to-table strategy by locating facilities on land near key markets. This reduces shipping costs and shortens delivery timeframes, while offering consumers a superior, fresh product.
Land-based aquaculture facilities create a means of producing seafood with a minimal impact on the fisheries and the environment, while reducing the carbon footprint of conventional seafood supply chains.
Veolia, a key player in land-based aquaculture
Veolia Water Technologies has been revolutionizing land-based aquaculture for over 20 years. Our experience in advanced water treatment technologies and turnkey RAS system design has been creating a competitive advantage for our clients.
Through world-class water purification technologies and expertise, Veolia Water Technologies and our subsidiaries AnoxKaldnes, Hydrotech, Krüger A/S and Krüger Kaldnes, offer a wide range of solutions that can be tailored to meet the highest standards and provide high-quality, energy-efficient, operationally-friendly water treatment systems.
Read through this issue of WAVE magazine to find out more about solutions for environmentally responsible and sustainable aquaculture.
waveInsights from Veolia Water Technologies
Innovative Water Solutions
Through its innovative solutions, Veolia Water Technologies enables industry, local authorities and citizens to optimize their use of resources for more efficient, environmentally-friendly and socially responsible outcomes.
We understand the importance of increasing the value of water and we do so by supplying high quality water, treating and reusing wastewater, producing and/or recovering energy, extracting raw materials and capitalizing on valuable byproducts.
www.veoliawatertechnologies.com
WATER TECHNOLOGIES
Aquaculture is a critical food source to meet current and future
global consumption requirements
4 WAVE #15 CONTENTS 5
CONTENTS
20Marine HarvestRecycled water for farm-raised salmon
21Advanced digital toolsReduce risk and improve efficiency
21
20
28
24AQUAVISTATM offer overview
24
26
14Lerøy SjøtrollOne of the world’s largest smolt plants
28Kaldnes® RASThe underlying technologies
093 questionswith Thomas Hofmann
06Key player in aquaculture
08Sustainable salmon production in Switzerland
26Sashimi RoyalTaking fish farmingto the next level
16Ensuring successin large-scale aquaculture
11RAS2020TM
The most advanced aquaculture solution
0811
09
16
14
4 WAVE #15 CONTENTS 5
CONTENTS
20Marine HarvestRecycled water for farm-raised salmon
21Advanced digital toolsReduce risk and improve efficiency
21
20
28
24AQUAVISTATM offer overview
24
26
14Lerøy SjøtrollOne of the world’s largest smolt plants
28Kaldnes® RASThe underlying technologies
093 questionswith Thomas Hofmann
06Key player in aquaculture
08Sustainable salmon production in Switzerland
26Sashimi RoyalTaking fish farmingto the next level
16Ensuring successin large-scale aquaculture
11RAS2020TM
The most advanced aquaculture solution
0811
09
16
14
6 WAVE #07 CREATING VALUE FOR INDUSTRY 76 WAVE #15
Veolia Water Technologies,
a key player forsustainable solutions in the aquacultureindustry
aquaculture solutions that can be tailored to meet the highest standards in water quality and energy efficiency, while being easy to operate. This key expertise applies to all kinds of fish species, from fresh to seawater and cold to tropical water.
Recirculating Aquaculture SystemRecirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) present several advantages which make them an attractive alternative to traditional systems, as it is possible to control water temperature, hydraulics and pH, and thus maintain an optimal environment for salmon as well as other species. Besides, it is not just water that is recycled, but also the energy used to warm it.
Kaldnes® RASDeveloped by Krüger Kaldnes in 2008, the Kaldnes® RAS process is dedicated to smolt hatcheries specializing in raising fish up to 300g to 500g. The concept of RAS is to reuse a volume of water through continual treatment and delivery to the organisms being cultured.
Kaldnes RAS includes among other systems, two market-leading Veolia technologies:• Hydrotech™ filters, the best microscreen
filters for aquaculture currently available onthe market;
• AnoxKaldnes™ MBBR, the cutting-edgeMoving Bed Bioreactor (MBBR) fixed biofilmtechnology, which is the biological engineof the RAS.
RAS2020™ A patented system developed by Veolia subsidiary Krüger A/S, RAS2020™ is a unique and innovative grow-out solution dedicated to land-based fish farming specializing in raising fish until their maturity.
The RAS2020 is a flexible, modular recirculating aquaculture system with optimized fish movement, low operating costs, and reduced footprint. It is well suited for species such as salmon, trout, kingfish, sea bass, and pike perch, among others.
Depending on customer’s needs, Kaldnes RAS and RAS2020 can be combined for a global management and control of the entire fish life-cycle.
A very promising future for Veolia Water TechnologiesVeolia Water Technologies’ solutions have been successfully implemented by hundreds of producers in the aquaculture industry.
Our facilities are always delivered with the highest water quality process guarantee. But our role is not just to be an equipment supplier, we also aim at helping our clients become better.
With the launch of AQUAVISTA™ digital services, we focus even more on establishing the best sustainable and operating conditions in order to secure fish welfare, while generating more revenue for our clients. �
All around the world, people have nevereaten as much fish as they have for
half a century. In the last five decades, the global supply of fish for human consumption has outpaced population growth. In fact, according to data from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), fish consumption has doubled: today it reaches more than 20 kilos per year and per inhabitant against an average of 10 kilos
in 1960. This trend is largely due to the growth of aquaculture, which plays an
important role in world food.
Overfishing is a huge problem throughout the world’s oceans. Fish are being removed faster than they can replenish themselves, and populations are dwindling. With its huge
potential, aquaculture represents a viable alternative
to fishing and now supplies 50% of the world’s fish that is used for
food.
The challenges facing aquacultureThe aquaculture industry faces the challenge of providing an ample supply of juvenile fish (smolts) and fully-grown fish by focusing on their welfare, while composing with limited space available and limited freshwater
resources. This expanding industry thus has to use space and freshwater in a sustainable way by:• implementing recovery solutions to reduce
energy and water consumption;• enhancing control of the aquatic
environment, animal health and welfare;• ensuring biosecurity.
To help producers meet this challenge, Veolia Water Technologies offers innovative solutions for environmentally responsible and sustainable aquaculture.
Veolia’s key expertise in recirculating aquaculture systemsRising demand in the aquaculture industry has spurred development of advanced sustainable aquaculture technologies to address challenges of traditional flow-through oxygenation systems, including water consumption, pollution, and land availability.
Based on its strong water treatment expertise and technologies developed by its subsidiaries AnoxKaldnes, Hydrotech, Krüger A/S and Krüger Kaldnes, Veolia Water Technologies strives to deliver intelligent and cost-effective solutions to ensure the best possible fish welfare.
The company offers turnkey recirculating
Kaldnes® RASand RAS2020™ arebased on some of
Veolia Water Technologies’ well-known technologies to best respond to the key
challenges faced by today’s aquaculture industry
Aquaculture is thefarming of aquatic
organisms in both coastal and inland areas involving
interventions in the rearing process to enhance
production
6 WAVE #07 CREATING VALUE FOR INDUSTRY 76 WAVE #15
Veolia Water Technologies,
a key player forsustainable solutions in the aquacultureindustry
aquaculture solutions that can be tailored to meet the highest standards in water quality and energy efficiency, while being easy to operate. This key expertise applies to all kinds of fish species, from fresh to seawater and cold to tropical water.
Recirculating Aquaculture SystemRecirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) present several advantages which make them an attractive alternative to traditional systems, as it is possible to control water temperature, hydraulics and pH, and thus maintain an optimal environment for salmon as well as other species. Besides, it is not just water that is recycled, but also the energy used to warm it.
Kaldnes® RASDeveloped by Krüger Kaldnes in 2008, the Kaldnes® RAS process is dedicated to smolt hatcheries specializing in raising fish up to 300g to 500g. The concept of RAS is to reuse a volume of water through continual treatment and delivery to the organisms being cultured.
Kaldnes RAS includes among other systems, two market-leading Veolia technologies:• Hydrotech™ filters, the best microscreen
filters for aquaculture currently available onthe market;
• AnoxKaldnes™ MBBR, the cutting-edgeMoving Bed Bioreactor (MBBR) fixed biofilmtechnology, which is the biological engineof the RAS.
RAS2020™ A patented system developed by Veolia subsidiary Krüger A/S, RAS2020™ is a unique and innovative grow-out solution dedicated to land-based fish farming specializing in raising fish until their maturity.
The RAS2020 is a flexible, modular recirculating aquaculture system with optimized fish movement, low operating costs, and reduced footprint. It is well suited for species such as salmon, trout, kingfish, sea bass, and pike perch, among others.
Depending on customer’s needs, Kaldnes RAS and RAS2020 can be combined for a global management and control of the entire fish life-cycle.
A very promising future for Veolia Water TechnologiesVeolia Water Technologies’ solutions have been successfully implemented by hundreds of producers in the aquaculture industry.
Our facilities are always delivered with the highest water quality process guarantee. But our role is not just to be an equipment supplier, we also aim at helping our clients become better.
With the launch of AQUAVISTA™ digital services, we focus even more on establishing the best sustainable and operating conditions in order to secure fish welfare, while generating more revenue for our clients. �
All around the world, people have nevereaten as much fish as they have for
half a century. In the last five decades, the global supply of fish for human consumption has outpaced population growth. In fact, according to data from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), fish consumption has doubled: today it reaches more than 20 kilos per year and per inhabitant against an average of 10 kilos
in 1960. This trend is largely due to the growth of aquaculture, which plays an
important role in world food.
Overfishing is a huge problem throughout the world’s oceans. Fish are being removed faster than they can replenish themselves, and populations are dwindling. With its huge
potential, aquaculture represents a viable alternative
to fishing and now supplies 50% of the world’s fish that is used for
food.
The challenges facing aquacultureThe aquaculture industry faces the challenge of providing an ample supply of juvenile fish (smolts) and fully-grown fish by focusing on their welfare, while composing with limited space available and limited freshwater
resources. This expanding industry thus has to use space and freshwater in a sustainable way by:• implementing recovery solutions to reduce
energy and water consumption;• enhancing control of the aquatic
environment, animal health and welfare;• ensuring biosecurity.
To help producers meet this challenge, Veolia Water Technologies offers innovative solutions for environmentally responsible and sustainable aquaculture.
Veolia’s key expertise in recirculating aquaculture systemsRising demand in the aquaculture industry has spurred development of advanced sustainable aquaculture technologies to address challenges of traditional flow-through oxygenation systems, including water consumption, pollution, and land availability.
Based on its strong water treatment expertise and technologies developed by its subsidiaries AnoxKaldnes, Hydrotech, Krüger A/S and Krüger Kaldnes, Veolia Water Technologies strives to deliver intelligent and cost-effective solutions to ensure the best possible fish welfare.
The company offers turnkey recirculating
Kaldnes® RASand RAS2020™ arebased on some of
Veolia Water Technologies’ well-known technologies to best respond to the key
challenges faced by today’s aquaculture industry
Aquaculture is thefarming of aquatic
organisms in both coastal and inland areas involving
interventions in the rearing process to enhance
production
8 WAVE #15 RESOURCING THE WORLD 9
Thomas Hofmann has over 15 years of experience in aquaculture. From technician to researcher and project manager in Australia, Denmark and Spain, to joining Veolia as process manager in the company’s business unit dedicated to aquaculture, it is easy to see that Thomas is passionate about and knows a lot about fish farming! Since 2015, he has been working with Swiss Alpine Fish to develop their salmon farm in Lostallo, in the magnificent Swiss Alps, an installation based on Veolia’s Recirculating Aquaculture System, RAS2020TM.
Q. The Swiss Alpine Fish farmmainly relies on the recirculatingaquaculture technology. What are its advantages in terms ofefficiency and sustainability?
Thomas Hofmann: The Swiss Alpine Fish farm is an indoor installation in which salmon are raised in tanks filled with clean mountain water, without any antibiotics or chemicals. This technology presents at least three advantages: (1) an optimized management of resources and waste, (2) a short, closed-loop system with a low carbon
footprint and (3) a production of very high-quality salmon for the end consumer.
From a resource management point of view, the RAS technology allows recycling of 99% of the water required for the fish farm to function. Pumped at 25 meters deep, this freshwater is constantly recirculated in the tanks following a mechanical and biological treatment to remove ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. Only 1% of the water gets out of the circuit and is treated before being discharged to the river.
Sustainable salmon production in Switzerland using recirculation
Fish farming with virtually no emissionsand very little supply of freshwater
is now possible by combining modern recirculation technology with Veolia’s expertise in wastewater treatment.
To produce certified sustainable salmon from its land-based salmon farm in the Swiss Alps, Swiss Alpine Fish must have control of its water consumption and discharge. To achieve this objective, the company has invested in Veolia’s RAS2020TM aquaculture system. This technology ensures that as much as 99.7% of the water is treated and recirculated in a land-based system, ensuring that hardly any emission reaches the local water environment.
About the Swiss Alpine Fish farmNestled in Lostallo, a 400-inhabitant village located 200 km from Zürich, the Swiss Alpine Fish farm “harvested” its first batch of atlantic salmon (salmo salar) in 2018. Based on Veolia’s RAS2020 technology, the plant relies on a recirculating aquaculture system where the water is filtered seven times through a closed-loop system every day. This system prevents fish evacuation, reduces freshwater consumption and does not require the use of antibiotics or water treatment chemicals.
“Environmental restrictions are exceptionally stringent at our location and we are the first company in Switzerland to farm sustainable
salmon. Without a water treatment system of this type, we would not be able to do it,” says Swiss Alpine Fish CEO, Julian Connor.He explains that the demand for sustainable and locally farmed fish – salmon, in this instance – is high in Switzerland and the Swiss are willing to pay a higher price per kilo than consumers on the international market.
“This enables us to build an efficient, first-class plant in which we use the best feed. We do not use chemicals and the reduced discharge is treated to meet the restrictions of the site. The Swiss focus very much on sustainability and a clean water environment,” says Julian Connor.
The farm hopes to produce 600 tons of salmon per year, covering about 3-4% of the demand in Switzerland. 50,000 eggs are imported from Iceland every 10 weeks, while it takes about 24 months for a salmon to reach 4 kilos. Thanks to its very compact construction, the farm only takes up 2,200 m, including the quarantine unit and the wastewater treatment plant.
The farm relies on 15 full-time employees who handle everything from raising the fish and transforming it to selling it on site. The remainder of the production is distributed to supermarkets, specialized distributors and online under the Swiss Lachs brand. The farm is set to turn a profit this year, 4 years after construction. �
3 questions with
Thomas HofmannAquaculture process manager atVeolia Water Technologies
8 WAVE #15 RESOURCING THE WORLD 9
Thomas Hofmann has over 15 years of experience in aquaculture. From technician to researcher and project manager in Australia, Denmark and Spain, to joining Veolia as process manager in the company’s business unit dedicated to aquaculture, it is easy to see that Thomas is passionate about and knows a lot about fish farming! Since 2015, he has been working with Swiss Alpine Fish to develop their salmon farm in Lostallo, in the magnificent Swiss Alps, an installation based on Veolia’s Recirculating Aquaculture System, RAS2020TM.
Q. The Swiss Alpine Fish farmmainly relies on the recirculatingaquaculture technology. What are its advantages in terms ofefficiency and sustainability?
Thomas Hofmann: The Swiss Alpine Fish farm is an indoor installation in which salmon are raised in tanks filled with clean mountain water, without any antibiotics or chemicals. This technology presents at least three advantages: (1) an optimized management of resources and waste, (2) a short, closed-loop system with a low carbon
footprint and (3) a production of very high-quality salmon for the end consumer.
From a resource management point of view, the RAS technology allows recycling of 99% of the water required for the fish farm to function. Pumped at 25 meters deep, this freshwater is constantly recirculated in the tanks following a mechanical and biological treatment to remove ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. Only 1% of the water gets out of the circuit and is treated before being discharged to the river.
Sustainable salmon production in Switzerland using recirculation
Fish farming with virtually no emissionsand very little supply of freshwater
is now possible by combining modern recirculation technology with Veolia’s expertise in wastewater treatment.
To produce certified sustainable salmon from its land-based salmon farm in the Swiss Alps, Swiss Alpine Fish must have control of its water consumption and discharge. To achieve this objective, the company has invested in Veolia’s RAS2020TM aquaculture system. This technology ensures that as much as 99.7% of the water is treated and recirculated in a land-based system, ensuring that hardly any emission reaches the local water environment.
About the Swiss Alpine Fish farmNestled in Lostallo, a 400-inhabitant village located 200 km from Zürich, the Swiss Alpine Fish farm “harvested” its first batch of atlantic salmon (salmo salar) in 2018. Based on Veolia’s RAS2020 technology, the plant relies on a recirculating aquaculture system where the water is filtered seven times through a closed-loop system every day. This system prevents fish evacuation, reduces freshwater consumption and does not require the use of antibiotics or water treatment chemicals.
“Environmental restrictions are exceptionally stringent at our location and we are the first company in Switzerland to farm sustainable
salmon. Without a water treatment system of this type, we would not be able to do it,” says Swiss Alpine Fish CEO, Julian Connor.He explains that the demand for sustainable and locally farmed fish – salmon, in this instance – is high in Switzerland and the Swiss are willing to pay a higher price per kilo than consumers on the international market.
“This enables us to build an efficient, first-class plant in which we use the best feed. We do not use chemicals and the reduced discharge is treated to meet the restrictions of the site. The Swiss focus very much on sustainability and a clean water environment,” says Julian Connor.
The farm hopes to produce 600 tons of salmon per year, covering about 3-4% of the demand in Switzerland. 50,000 eggs are imported from Iceland every 10 weeks, while it takes about 24 months for a salmon to reach 4 kilos. Thanks to its very compact construction, the farm only takes up 2,200 m, including the quarantine unit and the wastewater treatment plant.
The farm relies on 15 full-time employees who handle everything from raising the fish and transforming it to selling it on site. The remainder of the production is distributed to supermarkets, specialized distributors and online under the Swiss Lachs brand. The farm is set to turn a profit this year, 4 years after construction. �
3 questions with
Thomas HofmannAquaculture process manager atVeolia Water Technologies
10 WAVE #0710 WAVE #15
Management of organic waste generated by the farm is also sustainable: fish feces as well as uneaten food are concentrated in containers and used to produce biogas locally.
As for the distribution network, classic fish farming usually entails tremendous transportation costs: fish raised in farms in Norway or Scotland is transformed in Poland before going back to Norway to be distributed across Europe. With this system, it takes around 7 or 8 days before the fish reaches the consumer. By performing all of these steps onsite, as it is the case at the Swiss Alpine Fish farm, the salmon can be on the market within a few hours, with no freezing. As a result, the end-product has a much lower carbon footprint, not to mention that power used in Lostallo comes from a hydropower plant. Besides, continuous farming means having access to fish from different sizes to allow flexibility in addressing consumer demand while guaranteeing the traceability of the product.
Finally, fish grow in a controlled environment, preserved from diseases and parasites, such as sea lice. They are therefore raised without antibiotics or pesticides. Water quality parameters as well as its temperature and transfer techniques between tanks all contribute to limiting stress felt by the fish. Their diet, made of fish flour produced in Norway from european fish, doesn’t contain any ethoxyquin, a harmful antioxydant often used in fish flour imported from South America.
Q. The farm is located in a very small village, with 400 inhabitants. Could this model be transposed to urban centers and if so, what conditions are required for recirculating aquaculture to successfully become urban?
T.H.: The Swiss Alpine Fish farm is very compact: the fish farming tanks are housed in a 60 meter by 30 meter building which is 10 meters tall. This limited footprint represents a tremendous advantage for an urban placement. Besides the small land required, visual pollution can be limited by choosing an aesthetic covering, such as wood in the case of Swiss Alpine Fish, and it is also important to note that salmon farming does not produce any odors.
Because it also created jobs, the project was very well received by the local community. We could absolutely transpose this installation in, for instance, a Paris suburb, and imagine producing a Parisian salmon.
The only condition required to implement a recirculating aquaculture site is having access to quality water, be it fresh or salted, and having a possibility to discharge the volume of water which is not recirculated. The cost of water is an important aspect of the economic model and proximity to a river or a lac is definitely an advantage. Switzerland is of course renowned for its fresh water reserves, but there are many options for urban implantations in Europe.
Q. The farm should turn a profit this year. What factors can explain these results?
T.H.: I see three key success factors, mainly: an advanced technology, paired with an attractive and profitable business model, which addresses a high demand for high-quality, local products.
First, the recirculating technology, with its filtration and water treatment systems, is the key to the success of the farm since it allows to create a very high-quality product in an environmentally sustainable way.
Secondly, the targeted Swiss market not only has a strong purchasing power but is also very sensitive to “Made in Switzerland”, to the point where the water in the tanks where the salmon grow in Lostallo is salted with Swiss salt! If the product is high quality - and particularly if it is considered festive or luxury, like salmon - the willingness to pay more for a Swiss product is strong. Price wise, the whole fish sells for 14€/Kg while smoked fish goes up to 90€/Kg. More than ever, consumers want to know what they are eating, and traditional fish farms in other countries have strongly tarnished the image of the product and of its environmental impact. Producing salmon in a sustainable way makes sense for the consumer.
Finally, salmon farming using recirculating systems offers many profitable investment opportunities, with attractive growth potential and low financial risk. This economic model has attracted investments from large distribution companies as well as from private investors who wish to bet on a sustainable project. �
Veolia Water Technologies offers a unique grow-out solution: the patented
RAS2020™ is a modular recirculating aquaculture system designed to reduce capital costs, maximize production, minimize operating costs, and improve sustainability.
The opportunity for land-based aquacultureThe demand for quality seafood and sophisticated consumer purchasing trends have increased. This combined with the environmental and financial risks of off-shore aquaculture create the need for farmers to gain greater control over their operations. Land-based RAS (Recirculating Aquaculture Systems) is a solution for aquaculture companies to reduce risk, while maximizingprofitability.
Farm-to-table freshGeographic challenges make it difficult and expensive for some regions to receive fresh seafood. The RAS2020 allows farmers to achieve a farm-to-table strategy by locating facilities on land near key markets. This reduces shipping costs and shortens delivery timeframes, while offering consumers a superior fresh product.
BiosecurityThe biosecurity of the RAS2020 is based on full control of the incoming potential risks. The system includes comprehensive treatment of the incoming water (filtration, ozone, UV), a biosecure gate for personnel entering the facility (to change clothing and footwear), and full-control and separation between biosecure and non-secure areas.
CREATING VALUE FOR INDUSTRY 11
Key RAS2020™ Benefits
• 99.5% of the water is treated and recirculated
• Up to 50% reduced footprint• Highly-controlled and uniform flow
velocity to mimic a natural aquatic environment
• Efficient facility design that ensures biosecurity
• Reduced operating and utility costs• Reduced handling to minimize fish
stress• Proven water treatment processes• Optimized feed conversion ratio
RAS2020™The most advanced solutionfor the aquaculture industry
10 WAVE #0710 WAVE #15
Management of organic waste generated by the farm is also sustainable: fish feces as well as uneaten food are concentrated in containers and used to produce biogas locally.
As for the distribution network, classic fish farming usually entails tremendous transportation costs: fish raised in farms in Norway or Scotland is transformed in Poland before going back to Norway to be distributed across Europe. With this system, it takes around 7 or 8 days before the fish reaches the consumer. By performing all of these steps onsite, as it is the case at the Swiss Alpine Fish farm, the salmon can be on the market within a few hours, with no freezing. As a result, the end-product has a much lower carbon footprint, not to mention that power used in Lostallo comes from a hydropower plant. Besides, continuous farming means having access to fish from different sizes to allow flexibility in addressing consumer demand while guaranteeing the traceability of the product.
Finally, fish grow in a controlled environment, preserved from diseases and parasites, such as sea lice. They are therefore raised without antibiotics or pesticides. Water quality parameters as well as its temperature and transfer techniques between tanks all contribute to limiting stress felt by the fish. Their diet, made of fish flour produced in Norway from european fish, doesn’t contain any ethoxyquin, a harmful antioxydant often used in fish flour imported from South America.
Q. The farm is located in a very small village, with 400 inhabitants. Could this model be transposed to urban centers and if so, what conditions are required for recirculating aquaculture to successfully become urban?
T.H.: The Swiss Alpine Fish farm is very compact: the fish farming tanks are housed in a 60 meter by 30 meter building which is 10 meters tall. This limited footprint represents a tremendous advantage for an urban placement. Besides the small land required, visual pollution can be limited by choosing an aesthetic covering, such as wood in the case of Swiss Alpine Fish, and it is also important to note that salmon farming does not produce any odors.
Because it also created jobs, the project was very well received by the local community. We could absolutely transpose this installation in, for instance, a Paris suburb, and imagine producing a Parisian salmon.
The only condition required to implement a recirculating aquaculture site is having access to quality water, be it fresh or salted, and having a possibility to discharge the volume of water which is not recirculated. The cost of water is an important aspect of the economic model and proximity to a river or a lac is definitely an advantage. Switzerland is of course renowned for its fresh water reserves, but there are many options for urban implantations in Europe.
Q. The farm should turn a profit this year. What factors can explain these results?
T.H.: I see three key success factors, mainly: an advanced technology, paired with an attractive and profitable business model, which addresses a high demand for high-quality, local products.
First, the recirculating technology, with its filtration and water treatment systems, is the key to the success of the farm since it allows to create a very high-quality product in an environmentally sustainable way.
Secondly, the targeted Swiss market not only has a strong purchasing power but is also very sensitive to “Made in Switzerland”, to the point where the water in the tanks where the salmon grow in Lostallo is salted with Swiss salt! If the product is high quality - and particularly if it is considered festive or luxury, like salmon - the willingness to pay more for a Swiss product is strong. Price wise, the whole fish sells for 14€/Kg while smoked fish goes up to 90€/Kg. More than ever, consumers want to know what they are eating, and traditional fish farms in other countries have strongly tarnished the image of the product and of its environmental impact. Producing salmon in a sustainable way makes sense for the consumer.
Finally, salmon farming using recirculating systems offers many profitable investment opportunities, with attractive growth potential and low financial risk. This economic model has attracted investments from large distribution companies as well as from private investors who wish to bet on a sustainable project. �
Veolia Water Technologies offers a unique grow-out solution: the patented
RAS2020™ is a modular recirculating aquaculture system designed to reduce capital costs, maximize production, minimize operating costs, and improve sustainability.
The opportunity for land-based aquacultureThe demand for quality seafood and sophisticated consumer purchasing trends have increased. This combined with the environmental and financial risks of off-shore aquaculture create the need for farmers to gain greater control over their operations. Land-based RAS (Recirculating Aquaculture Systems) is a solution for aquaculture companies to reduce risk, while maximizingprofitability.
Farm-to-table freshGeographic challenges make it difficult and expensive for some regions to receive fresh seafood. The RAS2020 allows farmers to achieve a farm-to-table strategy by locating facilities on land near key markets. This reduces shipping costs and shortens delivery timeframes, while offering consumers a superior fresh product.
BiosecurityThe biosecurity of the RAS2020 is based on full control of the incoming potential risks. The system includes comprehensive treatment of the incoming water (filtration, ozone, UV), a biosecure gate for personnel entering the facility (to change clothing and footwear), and full-control and separation between biosecure and non-secure areas.
CREATING VALUE FOR INDUSTRY 11
Key RAS2020™ Benefits
• 99.5% of the water is treated and recirculated
• Up to 50% reduced footprint• Highly-controlled and uniform flow
velocity to mimic a natural aquatic environment
• Efficient facility design that ensures biosecurity
• Reduced operating and utility costs• Reduced handling to minimize fish
stress• Proven water treatment processes• Optimized feed conversion ratio
RAS2020™The most advanced solutionfor the aquaculture industry
12 WAVE #15 RESOURCING THE WORLD 13
The RAS2020™ has a number of advantages compared to conventional RAS solutions
Optimal aquatic environment for fish health and improved product quality• Adjustable tank sections create optimal fish
density with moveable screens within the tanks
• Highly-controlled and uniform flow velocity of the water within the entire system
• Easy and low-stress transfer of fish to purge tank and to processing using moveable grids
• Separation of fish in two purge tanks (per module)
Operational efficiency• Reduced energy costs• Lower manpower needs• Excellent conditions for management and
safety• Sorting and grading equipment may be
placed on the central platform, reducing distances during the fish handling process
• Harvest can be efficiently performed by the staff, without disturbing or starving the main fish population
• Optional protein skimmer with ozone injec-tion in RAS loop
Advantages during construction• Reduced building footprint (only 36,000ft /
3,340 m per module)• Reduced costs of construction materials• No underground piping to reduce construc-
tion risks and bio-growth• Expedited construction and start-up• Lower land impact – up to 50% less
Superior aquatic environment The RAS2020 creates a highly-controlled environment that supports healthy fish growth. The proprietary circular raceway and flow control system creates a uniform hydraulic velocity that can be adjusted in the inner and outer tank sections. This allows the fish to naturally swim within the tank area. The flow combined with the system’s superior water quality helps reduce fish stress, improve growth, and ensure a quality final product.
Water quality performance guaranteeThe RAS2020 is delivered with a performance guarantee of specified threshold levels of key water parameters to secure optimal fish welfare at maximum production.
Accommodates various fish speciesThe RAS2020 is well suited for species such as salmon, trout, kingfish, sea bass, pike perch, among others.
Cost-efficient design,controlled aquacultural environment
RAS2020™ Features Unit
Annual production capacity 1,200 metric tons (1,322 US tons)
Total footprint of building 3,340 m (36,000 ft)
Efficient tank volume 6,400 m (1.69 million gal)
Maximum daily feeding 4,000 kg (9,300 lb.) feed /day
Maximum standing stock 450 metric tons (496 US tons)
Maximum water consumption 60 m/hr (260 gpm)
Water quality and discharge Tailored to client
The RAS2020 mimics the flow
of a natural stream, which
helps to increase fish health RAS2020™ system design
revolutionizing aquaculture
1. Purge tanks2. HydrotechTM Drumfilters3. UV Filter4. AnoxKaldnesTM MBBR, Fish pump,
Grader and Counter5. Axial Flow Pumps6. CO2 Degasser7. Medium Head Oxygenation Units8. Inlet of treated water to Fish Tank9. Outlet from fish ank to water treatment
system and flow makers10. Feeding system11. Control room12. Processing
56
3
2
1 1 12 10
78
9
8
9
8 8
4
12 WAVE #15 RESOURCING THE WORLD 13
The RAS2020™ has a number of advantages compared to conventional RAS solutions
Optimal aquatic environment for fish health and improved product quality• Adjustable tank sections create optimal fish
density with moveable screens within the tanks
• Highly-controlled and uniform flow velocity of the water within the entire system
• Easy and low-stress transfer of fish to purge tank and to processing using moveable grids
• Separation of fish in two purge tanks (per module)
Operational efficiency• Reduced energy costs• Lower manpower needs• Excellent conditions for management and
safety• Sorting and grading equipment may be
placed on the central platform, reducing distances during the fish handling process
• Harvest can be efficiently performed by the staff, without disturbing or starving the main fish population
• Optional protein skimmer with ozone injec-tion in RAS loop
Advantages during construction• Reduced building footprint (only 36,000ft /
3,340 m per module)• Reduced costs of construction materials• No underground piping to reduce construc-
tion risks and bio-growth• Expedited construction and start-up• Lower land impact – up to 50% less
Superior aquatic environment The RAS2020 creates a highly-controlled environment that supports healthy fish growth. The proprietary circular raceway and flow control system creates a uniform hydraulic velocity that can be adjusted in the inner and outer tank sections. This allows the fish to naturally swim within the tank area. The flow combined with the system’s superior water quality helps reduce fish stress, improve growth, and ensure a quality final product.
Water quality performance guaranteeThe RAS2020 is delivered with a performance guarantee of specified threshold levels of key water parameters to secure optimal fish welfare at maximum production.
Accommodates various fish speciesThe RAS2020 is well suited for species such as salmon, trout, kingfish, sea bass, pike perch, among others.
Cost-efficient design,controlled aquacultural environment
RAS2020™ Features Unit
Annual production capacity 1,200 metric tons (1,322 US tons)
Total footprint of building 3,340 m (36,000 ft)
Efficient tank volume 6,400 m (1.69 million gal)
Maximum daily feeding 4,000 kg (9,300 lb.) feed /day
Maximum standing stock 450 metric tons (496 US tons)
Maximum water consumption 60 m/hr (260 gpm)
Water quality and discharge Tailored to client
The RAS2020 mimics the flow
of a natural stream, which
helps to increase fish health RAS2020™ system design
revolutionizing aquaculture
1. Purge tanks2. HydrotechTM Drumfilters3. UV Filter4. AnoxKaldnesTM MBBR, Fish pump,
Grader and Counter5. Axial Flow Pumps6. CO2 Degasser7. Medium Head Oxygenation Units8. Inlet of treated water to Fish Tank9. Outlet from fish ank to water treatment
system and flow makers10. Feeding system11. Control room12. Processing
56
3
2
1 1 12 10
78
9
8
9
8 8
4
14 WAVE #15 CREATING VALUE FOR INDUSTRY 15
Krüger Kaldnes, a Veolia Water Technologies subsidiary specialized
in aquaculture, has recently commissioned one of the world’s largest post-smolt RAS facilities for Lerøy Sjøtroll Kjærelva, located in Fitjar, Norway. The facilities were designed according to the highest standards, with a strong focus on biosecurity, fish logistics, and footprint.
Lerøy Sjøtroll Kjærelva is a compact and efficient plant with a high focus on industrialization as well as a safe display of production for visitors.
About the facilities The plant is made of twelve departments with two separate production lines. Each line consists of a hatchery, as well as Kaldnes® RAS departments for starting lining, growth, pre-smolt, and post-smolt. All RAS departments have the option of salinity adjustment. The delivery also includes all necessary support systems, such as freshwater and seawater inlet cleaning, energy plants, lime systems for PH regulation, vessel lighting, casing, dead fish and sludge plants. The plant is automated with PLS controls and control rooms (SCADA) and also includes a system for maintenance planning and management (MimerVA).
A turnkey solutionKrüger Kaldnes prides itself with developing solutions for complete delivery of land-based fish farms in collaboration with a building contractor, and it was indeed the case with the Lerøy Sjøtroll Kjærelva plant. Frederic
Gaumet, aquaculture sales manager for Krüger Kaldnes, said: “We already had a good collaboration with the civil company, Total Betong, so we chose to deliver an optimized solution where, together, we offered a complete turnkey solution. In addition, we managed to propose a plant with a higher production capacity than was originally planned, and that made Lerøy interested.”
The company’s focus is on high quality, biosecure fish production and optimal logistics to create well-designed facilities for its clients. The key to success lies in a close cooperation with clients during the pre-project planning phases as well as throughout the project execution.
‘‘This close collaboration makes for a very detailed and intense planning process. Several face-to-face meetings were held over a period of 2-3 months during which all the parties involved worked together on the solution. After the meeting, everyone would work separately to finish their “homework” in order to prepare for the next meeting’’ continued Gaumet.
Construction start: May 2017Completion: Spring 2019 (2020 will be the first full year of production)Capacity: 7 million 500 gr. post-smolt 5.5 million 160 gr. smoltFirst delivery of smolt: 2019Maximum feeding: 21.6 tons/dayTotal fish tank volume: 24,200 mTotal building area: 20,200 m
Building one of the world’s largest smolt plants - again!
Every detail was covered, from design to challenges like logistics of moving fish, people and visitors, management of technical equipment, how water would be transported inside and outside of the facility, what level of particle filtration was desired, how the ventilation system would be configured, etc.
Frederic Gaumet concluded: ‘‘Our joint project team with Total Betong has worked very closely with the Lerøy Expert Group to meet client’s requirements and expectations. It has been a very good process where the strength of both parties has contributed to a successful outcome.”
14 WAVE #15 CREATING VALUE FOR INDUSTRY 15
Krüger Kaldnes, a Veolia Water Technologies subsidiary specialized
in aquaculture, has recently commissioned one of the world’s largest post-smolt RAS facilities for Lerøy Sjøtroll Kjærelva, located in Fitjar, Norway. The facilities were designed according to the highest standards, with a strong focus on biosecurity, fish logistics, and footprint.
Lerøy Sjøtroll Kjærelva is a compact and efficient plant with a high focus on industrialization as well as a safe display of production for visitors.
About the facilities The plant is made of twelve departments with two separate production lines. Each line consists of a hatchery, as well as Kaldnes® RAS departments for starting lining, growth, pre-smolt, and post-smolt. All RAS departments have the option of salinity adjustment. The delivery also includes all necessary support systems, such as freshwater and seawater inlet cleaning, energy plants, lime systems for PH regulation, vessel lighting, casing, dead fish and sludge plants. The plant is automated with PLS controls and control rooms (SCADA) and also includes a system for maintenance planning and management (MimerVA).
A turnkey solutionKrüger Kaldnes prides itself with developing solutions for complete delivery of land-based fish farms in collaboration with a building contractor, and it was indeed the case with the Lerøy Sjøtroll Kjærelva plant. Frederic
Gaumet, aquaculture sales manager for Krüger Kaldnes, said: “We already had a good collaboration with the civil company, Total Betong, so we chose to deliver an optimized solution where, together, we offered a complete turnkey solution. In addition, we managed to propose a plant with a higher production capacity than was originally planned, and that made Lerøy interested.”
The company’s focus is on high quality, biosecure fish production and optimal logistics to create well-designed facilities for its clients. The key to success lies in a close cooperation with clients during the pre-project planning phases as well as throughout the project execution.
‘‘This close collaboration makes for a very detailed and intense planning process. Several face-to-face meetings were held over a period of 2-3 months during which all the parties involved worked together on the solution. After the meeting, everyone would work separately to finish their “homework” in order to prepare for the next meeting’’ continued Gaumet.
Construction start: May 2017Completion: Spring 2019 (2020 will be the first full year of production)Capacity: 7 million 500 gr. post-smolt 5.5 million 160 gr. smoltFirst delivery of smolt: 2019Maximum feeding: 21.6 tons/dayTotal fish tank volume: 24,200 mTotal building area: 20,200 m
Building one of the world’s largest smolt plants - again!
Every detail was covered, from design to challenges like logistics of moving fish, people and visitors, management of technical equipment, how water would be transported inside and outside of the facility, what level of particle filtration was desired, how the ventilation system would be configured, etc.
Frederic Gaumet concluded: ‘‘Our joint project team with Total Betong has worked very closely with the Lerøy Expert Group to meet client’s requirements and expectations. It has been a very good process where the strength of both parties has contributed to a successful outcome.”
16 WAVE #15
The importance of intake waterEnsuring success at large-scalerecirculating aquaculture facilities
Inland fish farms utilizing recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) will be key
players to help meet the global demand of fish production. The number of inland RAS systems is expected to skyrocket in the near future. According to independent research and advisory firm Lux Research, by the year 2030 more than 40% of the world’s global aquaculture production volume will be grown in advanced RAS systems.
There are numerous factors for fish farmers to consider as they develop RAS projects and evaluate potential site locations. An experienced workforce, geographic proximity to key markets, climate, environmental regulations, and of course, available water sources and the ability to discharge water are a few of these considerations. Therefore, it is important to undertake an in-depth analysis of the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of a potential site’s water source.
The importance of intake water qualityWater quality is the most critical element of a RAS system. It helps ensure satisfactory fish health and can even affect the quality of the harvested product. The newest generation of large-scale RAS systems are engineered to be very efficient in recycling and maintaining water quality within the system. Though these systems are considered to be closed-loop and can recirculate more than 99.5% of the water, they still require a large amount of high-quality intake water to continually replenish the system.
“It is vital to thoroughly evaluate all water sources in the early stages when developing a new aquaculture project,” says Frédéric Gaumet, Ph.D., business development manager of aquaculture for Veolia subsidiary Krüger Kaldnes in Norway. “Performing this analysis at the start of the project can help avoid expensive equipment retrofits to properly treat incoming water.”
Understanding your water sourceThough aquaculture has a very low water footprint when compared to other agribusinesses, it still depends heavily on a reliable source of water. Managing water resources efficiently can contribute to the overall success of a facility’s operation. Because of this, water should be a leading factor during the site selection process. Not only is the available volume of water important, but the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics are equally significant. Also critical is biosecurity. Regardless of the water source, there should always be upfront water treatment to ensure the water is disinfected to maintain the biosecurity at the facility. Depending on the water source, additional treatment may be needed to ensure a successful RAS operation.
Most likely, water sources at a potential site will be one of these sources: groundwater, surface, seawater, or municipal water. Each water source has its own particular treatment challenges for RAS systems. For instance, surface and seawater may have contaminants and other biohazards that can create
biosecurity concerns. It is possible to use sea or surface water as a supply source, but in all cases, the costs to treat this water should be closely evaluated.
If the site location is in a developed area, facilities will likely be able to connect to a municipal water source. Although these sources are relatively consistent in terms of quality and quantity, making them very reliable, they still present treatment challenges. At the minimum, municipal water will need to be treated to remove residual chlorine and potentially trihalomethanes. The largest downside of municipal water as a source for aquaculture is the cost. This water is usually expensive and can negatively affect the economics of the project.
Groundwater is usually the preferred source of water for inland aquaculture. Firms do have to ensure that the groundwater source can support the volume of water an aquaculture operation consumes year-round. The water supply should also be able to accommodate future production expansions and tertiary water needs, such as fish processing and hatchery and fingerling/fry additions. According to Gaumet, “Capacity and flexibility are very important. In most cases, a farm uses much more water then calculated only for the RAS.”
What are some of the key elements to identify related to intake water? Although water characteristics greatly vary depending on fish species and type of system, modern RAS’s are able to maintain a very specific aquatic environment. These systems are able to monitor and adjust temperature, pH, dissolved gases, suspended solids, and ammonia. When it comes to intake water, some key constituents can negatively impact the RAS’s performance and jeopardize fish health. �
Important water characteristics to evaluate when analyzing available water sources
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)Total dissolved solids (TDS) are inorganic salts within the water supply. These include calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, bicarbonates, chlorides, and sulfates. Though many freshwater fish can withstand relatively high levels of TDS (>400 mg/l), aquaculture facilities may face challenges discharging this water to the municipality or the environment. The sites most affected by this issue are those in inland regions that would prefer to discharge to surface waters. Many countries and states have water quality standards that restrict the discharge of TDS to freshwater rivers and streams. Groundwater sources can have higher levels of TDS, depending on the depth of groundwater and the local geology. The cost to treat or responsibly dispose of higher TDS wastewater can significantly add to the CAPEX and OPEX of the farm.
Hardness (calcium and magnesium levels)Depending on the geographic location, both groundwater and municipal water are susceptible to having high hardness levels. In most cases, hardness is not harmful to fish health; however, calcium carbonate can precipitate and create deposits within the various RAS equipment. Over time, these deposits can build up on equipment and prevent the RAS from maintaining a suitable water quality to sustain fish health and maximize production. One area most susceptible to hard water is the RAS’s biofiltration system. For RAS that use a fixed film bioreactor, scaling can significantly restrict flow and prevent proper biological treatment. If a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) is utilized, deposit build-up on the carriers can weigh down the media and reduce circulation inside the reactor.
RESOURCING THE WORLD 17
16 WAVE #15
The importance of intake waterEnsuring success at large-scalerecirculating aquaculture facilities
Inland fish farms utilizing recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) will be key
players to help meet the global demand of fish production. The number of inland RAS systems is expected to skyrocket in the near future. According to independent research and advisory firm Lux Research, by the year 2030 more than 40% of the world’s global aquaculture production volume will be grown in advanced RAS systems.
There are numerous factors for fish farmers to consider as they develop RAS projects and evaluate potential site locations. An experienced workforce, geographic proximity to key markets, climate, environmental regulations, and of course, available water sources and the ability to discharge water are a few of these considerations. Therefore, it is important to undertake an in-depth analysis of the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of a potential site’s water source.
The importance of intake water qualityWater quality is the most critical element of a RAS system. It helps ensure satisfactory fish health and can even affect the quality of the harvested product. The newest generation of large-scale RAS systems are engineered to be very efficient in recycling and maintaining water quality within the system. Though these systems are considered to be closed-loop and can recirculate more than 99.5% of the water, they still require a large amount of high-quality intake water to continually replenish the system.
“It is vital to thoroughly evaluate all water sources in the early stages when developing a new aquaculture project,” says Frédéric Gaumet, Ph.D., business development manager of aquaculture for Veolia subsidiary Krüger Kaldnes in Norway. “Performing this analysis at the start of the project can help avoid expensive equipment retrofits to properly treat incoming water.”
Understanding your water sourceThough aquaculture has a very low water footprint when compared to other agribusinesses, it still depends heavily on a reliable source of water. Managing water resources efficiently can contribute to the overall success of a facility’s operation. Because of this, water should be a leading factor during the site selection process. Not only is the available volume of water important, but the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics are equally significant. Also critical is biosecurity. Regardless of the water source, there should always be upfront water treatment to ensure the water is disinfected to maintain the biosecurity at the facility. Depending on the water source, additional treatment may be needed to ensure a successful RAS operation.
Most likely, water sources at a potential site will be one of these sources: groundwater, surface, seawater, or municipal water. Each water source has its own particular treatment challenges for RAS systems. For instance, surface and seawater may have contaminants and other biohazards that can create
biosecurity concerns. It is possible to use sea or surface water as a supply source, but in all cases, the costs to treat this water should be closely evaluated.
If the site location is in a developed area, facilities will likely be able to connect to a municipal water source. Although these sources are relatively consistent in terms of quality and quantity, making them very reliable, they still present treatment challenges. At the minimum, municipal water will need to be treated to remove residual chlorine and potentially trihalomethanes. The largest downside of municipal water as a source for aquaculture is the cost. This water is usually expensive and can negatively affect the economics of the project.
Groundwater is usually the preferred source of water for inland aquaculture. Firms do have to ensure that the groundwater source can support the volume of water an aquaculture operation consumes year-round. The water supply should also be able to accommodate future production expansions and tertiary water needs, such as fish processing and hatchery and fingerling/fry additions. According to Gaumet, “Capacity and flexibility are very important. In most cases, a farm uses much more water then calculated only for the RAS.”
What are some of the key elements to identify related to intake water? Although water characteristics greatly vary depending on fish species and type of system, modern RAS’s are able to maintain a very specific aquatic environment. These systems are able to monitor and adjust temperature, pH, dissolved gases, suspended solids, and ammonia. When it comes to intake water, some key constituents can negatively impact the RAS’s performance and jeopardize fish health. �
Important water characteristics to evaluate when analyzing available water sources
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)Total dissolved solids (TDS) are inorganic salts within the water supply. These include calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, bicarbonates, chlorides, and sulfates. Though many freshwater fish can withstand relatively high levels of TDS (>400 mg/l), aquaculture facilities may face challenges discharging this water to the municipality or the environment. The sites most affected by this issue are those in inland regions that would prefer to discharge to surface waters. Many countries and states have water quality standards that restrict the discharge of TDS to freshwater rivers and streams. Groundwater sources can have higher levels of TDS, depending on the depth of groundwater and the local geology. The cost to treat or responsibly dispose of higher TDS wastewater can significantly add to the CAPEX and OPEX of the farm.
Hardness (calcium and magnesium levels)Depending on the geographic location, both groundwater and municipal water are susceptible to having high hardness levels. In most cases, hardness is not harmful to fish health; however, calcium carbonate can precipitate and create deposits within the various RAS equipment. Over time, these deposits can build up on equipment and prevent the RAS from maintaining a suitable water quality to sustain fish health and maximize production. One area most susceptible to hard water is the RAS’s biofiltration system. For RAS that use a fixed film bioreactor, scaling can significantly restrict flow and prevent proper biological treatment. If a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) is utilized, deposit build-up on the carriers can weigh down the media and reduce circulation inside the reactor.
RESOURCING THE WORLD 17
A smarter RAS experienceVeolia’s patented RAS2020TM is transforming land-based aquaculture for leading fishfarms around the world. This innovative recirculating grow-out technology is nowoffered with AQUAVISTATM, Veolia’s proprietary cloud-based digital platform.
AQUAVISTA allows for real-time monitoring and advanced analytics of the RAS2020 to increase operational efficiency and reduce risks. This will help producers improve product quality, increase production yield, and ensure biosecurity.
www.veoliawatertechnologies.com
WATER TECHNOLOGIES
18 WAVE #15
In some cases, this can result in poor performance of the biological process and translate to an increase in ammonia levels, causing unsafe conditions for the fish. Another area susceptible to scaling is the degasser. Depending on the design of the system, scaling of the equipment can increase and result in harmful levels of dissolved gases within the RAS.
In most cases, intake water concentrations for hardness (CaCO3) should be under 200 mg/L. If not, it should be treated prior to entering the RAS. One common method to treat hardness is to utilize a high-rate softener that can efficiently remove scale-forming constituents within the intake water before it enters the RAS. This treatment will significantly reduce the possibility of scaling throughout the system.
Sulfate levelsThe water’s sulfate (SO4) level is another parameter to analyze in preparation for a RAS project. Sulfate commonly occurs in water sources and usually poses no immediate concern for fish health. However, if intake water is high in sulfates and there is an accumulation of biodegradable material from spent food or fish waste, it can promote the growth of hydrogen sulfide-producing bacteria. Fish are very sensitive to hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and the RAS design should anticipate the potential for this condition to occur. If there are elevated sulfate levels in the incoming water, it is important to ensure that the RAS is designed to minimize hydraulic dead-spots and other areas where solids can accumulate.
Organic contaminantsAnother characteristic that is sometimes overlooked in a water supply is organic contaminants. Agricultural runoff of pesticides and herbicides from nearby farms can infiltrate the groundwater. This is a greater concern if the water tables are shallow. Since the application of these on crops is seasonal, it will be important to monitor the water throughout the year to identify whether this condition exists. If so, the water needs to be treated prior to entering the RAS to avoid fish harm or accumulation of these organics in the muscle tissue of the fish that can result in poor taste and possible odors. Organic contaminants can typically be removed with the help of an activated carbon filtration system.
Ensuring success with intake waterBuilding a strong partnership with an experienced RAS technology provider that has an in-depth understanding and expertise in water chemistry and treatment will help to ensure the success of an aquaculture facility. Through careful analysis of the water and pairing the technological mix to ensure the RAS performance, companies can prevent significant oversights that result in unexpected operational and capital costs.
The stakes are high as inland aquaculture transforms itself to be a staple agribusiness. Bioplans and business plans need to be accurate and executable for emerging companies to succeed. Water is a foundational element within these plans. Understanding how water affects a RAS’s operation and the fish living inside of it can provide a competitive advantage for future aquaculture companies. �
RAS2020TMModular recirculating aquaculture systemfor large-scale sustainable fish production
A smarter RAS experienceVeolia’s patented RAS2020TM is transforming land-based aquaculture for leading fishfarms around the world. This innovative recirculating grow-out technology is nowoffered with AQUAVISTATM, Veolia’s proprietary cloud-based digital platform.
AQUAVISTA allows for real-time monitoring and advanced analytics of the RAS2020 to increase operational efficiency and reduce risks. This will help producers improve product quality, increase production yield, and ensure biosecurity.
www.veoliawatertechnologies.com
WATER TECHNOLOGIES
18 WAVE #15
In some cases, this can result in poor performance of the biological process and translate to an increase in ammonia levels, causing unsafe conditions for the fish. Another area susceptible to scaling is the degasser. Depending on the design of the system, scaling of the equipment can increase and result in harmful levels of dissolved gases within the RAS.
In most cases, intake water concentrations for hardness (CaCO3) should be under 200 mg/L. If not, it should be treated prior to entering the RAS. One common method to treat hardness is to utilize a high-rate softener that can efficiently remove scale-forming constituents within the intake water before it enters the RAS. This treatment will significantly reduce the possibility of scaling throughout the system.
Sulfate levelsThe water’s sulfate (SO4) level is another parameter to analyze in preparation for a RAS project. Sulfate commonly occurs in water sources and usually poses no immediate concern for fish health. However, if intake water is high in sulfates and there is an accumulation of biodegradable material from spent food or fish waste, it can promote the growth of hydrogen sulfide-producing bacteria. Fish are very sensitive to hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and the RAS design should anticipate the potential for this condition to occur. If there are elevated sulfate levels in the incoming water, it is important to ensure that the RAS is designed to minimize hydraulic dead-spots and other areas where solids can accumulate.
Organic contaminantsAnother characteristic that is sometimes overlooked in a water supply is organic contaminants. Agricultural runoff of pesticides and herbicides from nearby farms can infiltrate the groundwater. This is a greater concern if the water tables are shallow. Since the application of these on crops is seasonal, it will be important to monitor the water throughout the year to identify whether this condition exists. If so, the water needs to be treated prior to entering the RAS to avoid fish harm or accumulation of these organics in the muscle tissue of the fish that can result in poor taste and possible odors. Organic contaminants can typically be removed with the help of an activated carbon filtration system.
Ensuring success with intake waterBuilding a strong partnership with an experienced RAS technology provider that has an in-depth understanding and expertise in water chemistry and treatment will help to ensure the success of an aquaculture facility. Through careful analysis of the water and pairing the technological mix to ensure the RAS performance, companies can prevent significant oversights that result in unexpected operational and capital costs.
The stakes are high as inland aquaculture transforms itself to be a staple agribusiness. Bioplans and business plans need to be accurate and executable for emerging companies to succeed. Water is a foundational element within these plans. Understanding how water affects a RAS’s operation and the fish living inside of it can provide a competitive advantage for future aquaculture companies. �
RAS2020TMModular recirculating aquaculture systemfor large-scale sustainable fish production
20 WAVE #15 RESOURCING THE WORLD 21
Advanced digital tools reduce risk and improve efficiency
Recycled water for farm-raised salmon
The tide is shifting for the aquaculture industry. The global demand for fish
production and the uncertainty of offshore aquaculture is a cause of great concern. As a result, it is critical to implement sustainable inland fish farms utilizing recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) to increase fish production to meet this global demand. The “tidal shift” for the aquaculture industry is in perfect sync with another impactful trend—the industrial digitalization era.
For the last several years, “digitalization” and the “industrial internet of things” (IIoT) has been a leading topic of discussion. Companies that successfully harness this digital power stand to disrupt their current business models and sharpen their competitive edge. Aquaculture is starting to follow suit. As a result, companies looking to build large-scale fish farms are exploring the integration of advanced digital technologies, data analysis, and algorithms to create smarter and more sustainable grow-out facilities. Fish farms that successfully incorporate smart RAS technologies will significantly reduce their risks and maximize their operational performance. Reducing risk with smart RAS technologiesRisk mitigation may be the most important driver for companies to adopt smart RAS technologies. “Creating a large-scale RAS is a big investment. The construction costs are expensive, but if the farm is not operated properly, the biomass is at risk of dying and the business will be inherently unsuccessful.
As a result, companies are looking for ways to identify risks affecting fish health and prevent catastrophes before they occur,” according to Jonathan Moir, an aquaculture consultant based in Newfoundland, Canada.
To help reduce risks, RAS technology providers are looking to help firms protect their biomass by deploying robust digital platforms that offer real-time data and alarm management. Using data from sensors and equipment within the fish farm, these advanced cloud-based systems can collect and analyze this information in a very powerful way. Specific parameters related to water quality such as pH, temperature, salinity, carbon dioxide, oxygen levels, ammonia levels, nitrate levels, turbidity, flow rates, and so on can be monitored in real time.
About Marine Harvest SteinsvikThis newly-built production facility for smolt up to 250g consists of four departments and a hatchery. The three grow-out units and the hatchery are operated on Kaldnes® RAS, while the start-feeding unit is run as a flow-through. The third grow-out unit can be operated with a salinity of up to 30%. All the grow-out units are equipped with deep-shaft oxygen cones to minimize energy consumption.
The facility is designed to be operator-friendly, with respect to the layout, level of automation, and flexibility. The facility is ultra-compact with optimum utilization of the available floor space. Energy consumption has been kept to a minimum through the reuse of heat and optimized control systems.
Norwegian company Marine Harvest is the world’s leading
salmon breeder. It has contracted Veolia Water Technologies to design and build three wastewater recycling facilities that are among the largest and most modern of their kind.
Highly sensitive facilitiesAs an operator of highly sensitive facilities, Marine Harvest is constantly seeking technical solutions to optimize its operations and costs. In 2012, the world’s leading salmon breeder once again put its faith in Veolia, which had already delivered two wastewater recycling facilities for the company’s hatchery in Dalsfjord, Norway. This latest contract covered three new recycling plants, designed specifically for production of young salmon (smolts), to be installed at the Steinsvik site. The hatchery produces around 5.3 million smolts a year, using only 250 to 500 liters of water per kilogram of fish bred..
Reducing the environmental impact of aquacultureTotal water treatment capacity at the three plants reaches around 17,000 cubic meters per hour. Installations are designed to treat both freshwater and seawater, recycling and reusing up to 99% of the water needed for fish breeding.
The facilities use a number of proprietary technologies including AnoxKaldnes™ MBBR and Hydrotech™ microscreens, providing a seamless fit with the Kaldnes® RAS solution developed for the aquaculture market by Veolia subsidiary Krüger Kaldnes. Veolia also developed site instrumentation along with the SCADA infrastructure monitoring and control system.
Frederic Gaumet, aquaculture sales manager at Krüger Kaldnes, said: “These state-of-the-art technologies have increased the fish-farming yield – in particular by reducing smolt mortality – while mitigating any environmental impacts.”
20 WAVE #15 RESOURCING THE WORLD 21
Advanced digital tools reduce risk and improve efficiency
Recycled water for farm-raised salmon
The tide is shifting for the aquaculture industry. The global demand for fish
production and the uncertainty of offshore aquaculture is a cause of great concern. As a result, it is critical to implement sustainable inland fish farms utilizing recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) to increase fish production to meet this global demand. The “tidal shift” for the aquaculture industry is in perfect sync with another impactful trend—the industrial digitalization era.
For the last several years, “digitalization” and the “industrial internet of things” (IIoT) has been a leading topic of discussion. Companies that successfully harness this digital power stand to disrupt their current business models and sharpen their competitive edge. Aquaculture is starting to follow suit. As a result, companies looking to build large-scale fish farms are exploring the integration of advanced digital technologies, data analysis, and algorithms to create smarter and more sustainable grow-out facilities. Fish farms that successfully incorporate smart RAS technologies will significantly reduce their risks and maximize their operational performance. Reducing risk with smart RAS technologiesRisk mitigation may be the most important driver for companies to adopt smart RAS technologies. “Creating a large-scale RAS is a big investment. The construction costs are expensive, but if the farm is not operated properly, the biomass is at risk of dying and the business will be inherently unsuccessful.
As a result, companies are looking for ways to identify risks affecting fish health and prevent catastrophes before they occur,” according to Jonathan Moir, an aquaculture consultant based in Newfoundland, Canada.
To help reduce risks, RAS technology providers are looking to help firms protect their biomass by deploying robust digital platforms that offer real-time data and alarm management. Using data from sensors and equipment within the fish farm, these advanced cloud-based systems can collect and analyze this information in a very powerful way. Specific parameters related to water quality such as pH, temperature, salinity, carbon dioxide, oxygen levels, ammonia levels, nitrate levels, turbidity, flow rates, and so on can be monitored in real time.
About Marine Harvest SteinsvikThis newly-built production facility for smolt up to 250g consists of four departments and a hatchery. The three grow-out units and the hatchery are operated on Kaldnes® RAS, while the start-feeding unit is run as a flow-through. The third grow-out unit can be operated with a salinity of up to 30%. All the grow-out units are equipped with deep-shaft oxygen cones to minimize energy consumption.
The facility is designed to be operator-friendly, with respect to the layout, level of automation, and flexibility. The facility is ultra-compact with optimum utilization of the available floor space. Energy consumption has been kept to a minimum through the reuse of heat and optimized control systems.
Norwegian company Marine Harvest is the world’s leading
salmon breeder. It has contracted Veolia Water Technologies to design and build three wastewater recycling facilities that are among the largest and most modern of their kind.
Highly sensitive facilitiesAs an operator of highly sensitive facilities, Marine Harvest is constantly seeking technical solutions to optimize its operations and costs. In 2012, the world’s leading salmon breeder once again put its faith in Veolia, which had already delivered two wastewater recycling facilities for the company’s hatchery in Dalsfjord, Norway. This latest contract covered three new recycling plants, designed specifically for production of young salmon (smolts), to be installed at the Steinsvik site. The hatchery produces around 5.3 million smolts a year, using only 250 to 500 liters of water per kilogram of fish bred..
Reducing the environmental impact of aquacultureTotal water treatment capacity at the three plants reaches around 17,000 cubic meters per hour. Installations are designed to treat both freshwater and seawater, recycling and reusing up to 99% of the water needed for fish breeding.
The facilities use a number of proprietary technologies including AnoxKaldnes™ MBBR and Hydrotech™ microscreens, providing a seamless fit with the Kaldnes® RAS solution developed for the aquaculture market by Veolia subsidiary Krüger Kaldnes. Veolia also developed site instrumentation along with the SCADA infrastructure monitoring and control system.
Frederic Gaumet, aquaculture sales manager at Krüger Kaldnes, said: “These state-of-the-art technologies have increased the fish-farming yield – in particular by reducing smolt mortality – while mitigating any environmental impacts.”
22 WAVE #15 CREATING VALUE FOR INDUSTRY 23
In addition, a digital platform at a RAS facility utilizing advanced algorithms to monitor system parameters can generate emergency alerts and initiate emergency response controls, if necessary. For example, a RAS’s digital platform can be programmed to monitor oxygen levels to ensure they are maintained within a specific range. If the oxygen level drops below a pre-programmed threshold, the system can automatically engage the emergency back-up systems while simultaneously sending alerts to the operator via email and text message to start to remediate the issue. Remote monitoring and alarm management is especially critical in non-peak operating hours at the grow-out facility. It allows for reduced labor needs while simultaneously providing comprehensive 24/7 monitoring of the facility. These systems can also integrate data about other key RAS data, such as feed rates. This allows the system to correlate feed information and its impact on the water quality. For instance, if the farm is experiencing periodic spikes in ammonia levels or suspended solids, a smart RAS can help the operator make data-driven decisions to optimize the feeding plan and make the necessary adjustments to enhance the performance of the RAS related treatment
equipment, thereby protecting the biomass.Beyond monitoring and alarm management, these smart RAS systems can reduce the possibility of equipment failure using advanced predictive maintenance (PdM). Using artificial intelligence, these new systems can analyze complex data sets from the sensors within the RAS, equipment data, and historic information. This computing power will result in operators being able to prioritize and schedule maintenance and repairs before there is an equipment failure that can negatively impact the fish farm. These technologies can also help with another big challenge for the aquaculture industry—filling the shortage of skilled RAS professionals to operate these next generation fish farms. Machine learning and advanced algorithms specifically related to RAS will continue to become more sophisticated. As a result, companies will be able to modify these systems and develop “virtual RAS systems.” These virtual RASs can be used as a comprehensive, interactive, advanced training tool that can simulate the operations of an inland aquaculture facility. “Operators can be exposed to realistic scenarios, such as equipment failures or high toxicities within the water. They can then respond to these issues and have immediate feedback on their decisions and actions, all within this virtual environment,” said Moir.
Maximizing operational efficiency In addition to risk mitigation, aquaculture firms using large-scale RAS are turning to digitalization and enterprise IoT technologies to reduce operational costs, increase fish quality and potentially increase production. As these smart RASs begin to operate, they will generate a large amount of data. Parameters such as water quality, fish growth rates, food consumption, oxygen usage, and equipment data will be tracked and stored in powerful cloud-based computing systems for analysis. Using artificial intelligence complemented with human experience, these systems will be able to quickly identify trends and provide recommendations to the operator to optimize both the RAS and production process. The results will help operators more efficiently use consumables, such as food, oxygen, and chemicals. Similarly, the smart RASs will be able to identify strategies to reduce their power and water costs. This will help make fish farms more sustainable and competitive when compared to alternative aquaculture production methods. Getting started with incorporating smart RAS technologies As an emerging industry, large-scale RAS companies will benefit from the development and refinement of these technologies from other related industries. Veolia Water Technologies, which is a leading RAS technology provider and water treatment technology company, has been investing in its advanced digital services platform, AQUAVISTATM. Veolia is currently engaged in implementing its AQUAVISTA system to seamlessly integrate with its large-scale RAS technologies, the RAS2020TM and the Kaldes® RAS.
‘‘AQUAVISTATM is a holistic solution. It was originally designed to be able to manage a diversity of water treatment processes and our experience in creating powerful cloud-based tools for these applications will expedite the
implementation into Veolia’s RAS offering which is digital by design’’ according to Lars Christoffersen, a business developer at Veolia who is working on deploying AQUAVISTA for aquaculture. He adds, “Though it is possible to retrofit existing facilities, firms will most benefit if the RAS is fully-integrated with the data collection and cloud-based tools.” Consequently, companies that are currently engaged in developing a new RAS project should discuss this subject with their RAS technology partner and consider incorporating these smart RAS technologies into their project. It’s a critical time for RAS to embrace digitalization There are multiple challenges facing the land based aquaculture industry as it works to be a solution to meet increasing global demand for fish production. With any emerging industry, the risk is great. It is critical for companies looking to invest in large-scale grow-out facilities to leverage advanced digital tools to protect them from operational risks. These sophisticated software tools could be a potential solution to help educate the next generation of RAS operators by incorporating advanced simulations that are based on real-word data. Lastly, the digital revolution will help fish farms to continually improve their operations and become more competitive. Companies that can successful implement smart RAS technologies into their facility will be able to increase their operational performance and help create a faster ROI for their investors. Fortunately, the timing could not be more perfect for the RAS aquaculture industry. The digital revolution is beyond its infancy stages and companies who are experienced in RAS are currently integrating reliable and powerful cloud-based technologies to ensure the RAS of the future is here for fish farms of today. �
22 WAVE #15 CREATING VALUE FOR INDUSTRY 23
In addition, a digital platform at a RAS facility utilizing advanced algorithms to monitor system parameters can generate emergency alerts and initiate emergency response controls, if necessary. For example, a RAS’s digital platform can be programmed to monitor oxygen levels to ensure they are maintained within a specific range. If the oxygen level drops below a pre-programmed threshold, the system can automatically engage the emergency back-up systems while simultaneously sending alerts to the operator via email and text message to start to remediate the issue. Remote monitoring and alarm management is especially critical in non-peak operating hours at the grow-out facility. It allows for reduced labor needs while simultaneously providing comprehensive 24/7 monitoring of the facility. These systems can also integrate data about other key RAS data, such as feed rates. This allows the system to correlate feed information and its impact on the water quality. For instance, if the farm is experiencing periodic spikes in ammonia levels or suspended solids, a smart RAS can help the operator make data-driven decisions to optimize the feeding plan and make the necessary adjustments to enhance the performance of the RAS related treatment
equipment, thereby protecting the biomass.Beyond monitoring and alarm management, these smart RAS systems can reduce the possibility of equipment failure using advanced predictive maintenance (PdM). Using artificial intelligence, these new systems can analyze complex data sets from the sensors within the RAS, equipment data, and historic information. This computing power will result in operators being able to prioritize and schedule maintenance and repairs before there is an equipment failure that can negatively impact the fish farm. These technologies can also help with another big challenge for the aquaculture industry—filling the shortage of skilled RAS professionals to operate these next generation fish farms. Machine learning and advanced algorithms specifically related to RAS will continue to become more sophisticated. As a result, companies will be able to modify these systems and develop “virtual RAS systems.” These virtual RASs can be used as a comprehensive, interactive, advanced training tool that can simulate the operations of an inland aquaculture facility. “Operators can be exposed to realistic scenarios, such as equipment failures or high toxicities within the water. They can then respond to these issues and have immediate feedback on their decisions and actions, all within this virtual environment,” said Moir.
Maximizing operational efficiency In addition to risk mitigation, aquaculture firms using large-scale RAS are turning to digitalization and enterprise IoT technologies to reduce operational costs, increase fish quality and potentially increase production. As these smart RASs begin to operate, they will generate a large amount of data. Parameters such as water quality, fish growth rates, food consumption, oxygen usage, and equipment data will be tracked and stored in powerful cloud-based computing systems for analysis. Using artificial intelligence complemented with human experience, these systems will be able to quickly identify trends and provide recommendations to the operator to optimize both the RAS and production process. The results will help operators more efficiently use consumables, such as food, oxygen, and chemicals. Similarly, the smart RASs will be able to identify strategies to reduce their power and water costs. This will help make fish farms more sustainable and competitive when compared to alternative aquaculture production methods. Getting started with incorporating smart RAS technologies As an emerging industry, large-scale RAS companies will benefit from the development and refinement of these technologies from other related industries. Veolia Water Technologies, which is a leading RAS technology provider and water treatment technology company, has been investing in its advanced digital services platform, AQUAVISTATM. Veolia is currently engaged in implementing its AQUAVISTA system to seamlessly integrate with its large-scale RAS technologies, the RAS2020TM and the Kaldes® RAS.
‘‘AQUAVISTATM is a holistic solution. It was originally designed to be able to manage a diversity of water treatment processes and our experience in creating powerful cloud-based tools for these applications will expedite the
implementation into Veolia’s RAS offering which is digital by design’’ according to Lars Christoffersen, a business developer at Veolia who is working on deploying AQUAVISTA for aquaculture. He adds, “Though it is possible to retrofit existing facilities, firms will most benefit if the RAS is fully-integrated with the data collection and cloud-based tools.” Consequently, companies that are currently engaged in developing a new RAS project should discuss this subject with their RAS technology partner and consider incorporating these smart RAS technologies into their project. It’s a critical time for RAS to embrace digitalization There are multiple challenges facing the land based aquaculture industry as it works to be a solution to meet increasing global demand for fish production. With any emerging industry, the risk is great. It is critical for companies looking to invest in large-scale grow-out facilities to leverage advanced digital tools to protect them from operational risks. These sophisticated software tools could be a potential solution to help educate the next generation of RAS operators by incorporating advanced simulations that are based on real-word data. Lastly, the digital revolution will help fish farms to continually improve their operations and become more competitive. Companies that can successful implement smart RAS technologies into their facility will be able to increase their operational performance and help create a faster ROI for their investors. Fortunately, the timing could not be more perfect for the RAS aquaculture industry. The digital revolution is beyond its infancy stages and companies who are experienced in RAS are currently integrating reliable and powerful cloud-based technologies to ensure the RAS of the future is here for fish farms of today. �
24 WAVE #15 RESOURCING THE WORLD 25
AQUAVISTA™, all-in-one water digital service
AQUAVISTA™ InsightA data driven performance optimization tool
KEY FEATURES key operational information overview in form of
dashboard analysis of a plant’s operational and financial
performance global benchmarks to compare performance
across different sites scenario planning as a basis for optimization
ADDED VALUEA dashboard for managers, operators and engineers, to make informed business decisions. simple overview over key performance indicators continuous optimization of the operation predictive maintenance global benchmarking to apply successes
throughout various sites
AQUAVISTA™ PortalA customer portal for remote monitoring and reporting with a complete overview of all your data
KEY FEATURES real-time remote monitoring of equipment data dynamic alarm management event notification, e.g. outstanding maintenance automatic report generation information on service contracts / reports archive of all service and sales orders access to equipment documentation,
performance document, calibration certificates, O&M manuals, parts lists and training videos, etc.
ADDED VALUE improvement of preventive maintenance
through dynamic alarm management access to data from multiple sites via a single
point of entry 24/7 managed service convenience, transparency and simplified
operations
Through our modular offer, you have the flexibility to choose the service level to meet your needs.
AQUAVISTA™ AssistAccess to Veolia’s process experts for readily accessible assistance
KEY FEATURES network of Veolia experts to support operations advice in a timely manner, enabled by data and
a communication platform community management where operators can
communicate and share knowledge with other operators and Veolia process engineers
online training platform
ADDED VALUE operators can request support from Veolia (site
visit, online assistance for maintenance service, troubleshooting, emergency support)
risk mitigation to address your challenges (compliance, plant shutdown, etc.)
peace of mind for the operation team continued learning and sharing of experience
AQUAVISTA™ PlantA real-time performance optimization solution for water treatment facilities
KEY FEATURES suite of intelligence software features operating in
real-time an automated state-of-the-art plant overview online optimization & forecasting tool plant KPIs to monitor the plant's performance document management state of the art plant overview
ADDED VALUE increased stability of the plant facilitated compliance optimized use of operator time, focus on other
added-value tasks
AQUAVISTA™ Plant is installed at over 100 water treatment plants and installations worldwide.
Recorded impacts up to: 40% higher biological capacity 100% increase in hydraulic capacity 25% energy reduction for aeration 75% energy reduction for grit chamber aeration
75% reduction in energy use for internal nitrate recirculation
100% reduction in chemical use 20-50% in overall cost savings
Different mode of visualization available in AQUAVISTA™ Portal Beyond regular KPI monitoring, view of advanced analytics to improve business decisions in AQUAVISTA™ Insight
View automatically calculated KPI’s from process and operation from AQUAVISTA™ Plant User Interface
24 WAVE #15 RESOURCING THE WORLD 25
AQUAVISTA™, all-in-one water digital service
AQUAVISTA™ InsightA data driven performance optimization tool
KEY FEATURES key operational information overview in form of
dashboard analysis of a plant’s operational and financial
performance global benchmarks to compare performance
across different sites scenario planning as a basis for optimization
ADDED VALUEA dashboard for managers, operators and engineers, to make informed business decisions. simple overview over key performance indicators continuous optimization of the operation predictive maintenance global benchmarking to apply successes
throughout various sites
AQUAVISTA™ PortalA customer portal for remote monitoring and reporting with a complete overview of all your data
KEY FEATURES real-time remote monitoring of equipment data dynamic alarm management event notification, e.g. outstanding maintenance automatic report generation information on service contracts / reports archive of all service and sales orders access to equipment documentation,
performance document, calibration certificates, O&M manuals, parts lists and training videos, etc.
ADDED VALUE improvement of preventive maintenance
through dynamic alarm management access to data from multiple sites via a single
point of entry 24/7 managed service convenience, transparency and simplified
operations
Through our modular offer, you have the flexibility to choose the service level to meet your needs.
AQUAVISTA™ AssistAccess to Veolia’s process experts for readily accessible assistance
KEY FEATURES network of Veolia experts to support operations advice in a timely manner, enabled by data and
a communication platform community management where operators can
communicate and share knowledge with other operators and Veolia process engineers
online training platform
ADDED VALUE operators can request support from Veolia (site
visit, online assistance for maintenance service, troubleshooting, emergency support)
risk mitigation to address your challenges (compliance, plant shutdown, etc.)
peace of mind for the operation team continued learning and sharing of experience
AQUAVISTA™ PlantA real-time performance optimization solution for water treatment facilities
KEY FEATURES suite of intelligence software features operating in
real-time an automated state-of-the-art plant overview online optimization & forecasting tool plant KPIs to monitor the plant's performance document management state of the art plant overview
ADDED VALUE increased stability of the plant facilitated compliance optimized use of operator time, focus on other
added-value tasks
AQUAVISTA™ Plant is installed at over 100 water treatment plants and installations worldwide.
Recorded impacts up to: 40% higher biological capacity 100% increase in hydraulic capacity 25% energy reduction for aeration 75% energy reduction for grit chamber aeration
75% reduction in energy use for internal nitrate recirculation
100% reduction in chemical use 20-50% in overall cost savings
Different mode of visualization available in AQUAVISTA™ Portal Beyond regular KPI monitoring, view of advanced analytics to improve business decisions in AQUAVISTA™ Insight
View automatically calculated KPI’s from process and operation from AQUAVISTA™ Plant User Interface
26 WAVE #15 CREATING VALUE FOR INDUSTRY 27
Taking fish farmingto the next levelwith Claus Rom, CEO of Sashimi Royal
Sashimi Royal is the first large-scale, land-
based facility in the EU that produces Yellowtail for sushi and sashimi. Located on the beautiful coast of Denmark, it started market deliveries in 2017 and has a total annual production of 1,200 tons. Sashimi Royal is a pioneer in marine fish spawning and fry production and is dedicated to sustainable aquaculture.
Sashimi Royal has taken a new step towards sustainable fish farming with the grow-out production of Yellowtail in its new plant located near the port of Hanstholm in Denmark. The production is based on the innovative and patented recirculating aquaculture concept RAS2020™ delivered by Krüger A/S, a Veolia Water Technologies business unit.
Claus Rom, CEO of Sashimi Royal, tells us more about his plant and the benefits he sees in using RAS2020.
Q. Tell us a little bit about your facilities Claus Rom: Consumption of fish is increasing rapidly so there is a need for farming.
We have chosen to farm fish on the land, because then we can do it sustainably and we can do it under controlled conditions. And there is room for a lot of these plants in Denmark. There is an amazing number of jobs and an amazing amount of money in it. So it will be good for Denmark. And I think it is really exciting to take part in the first stage of development.
Here in this plant, we breed yellowtail kingfish from 100 grams up to 4 kilos. They will be used for sushi, among other things.
Q. What advantage do you see in using RAS2020™?CR: We are proud to be the first sustainable, land-based aquaculture in Denmark with almost no impact on the environment. We do not vaccinate our fish and we produce fingerlings ourselves. It is a big advantage that the new RAS2020 solution is extremely compact and manageable. We do not need a large area to have a huge production site. We expect to produce up to 1,200 tons of yellowtail a year to be sold all over Europe.
Q. Why chose a land-based facility?CR: The difference between this and the ocean is that we have just brought the salt water to us. We then clean it so we don’t have pieces of plastics or parasites or anything else that the fish in the ocean may have. We don’t use medication or any other drugs. In fact, we taste the fish regularly to assess whether the water we make is the right water for the fish.
I don’t know what it is like for the fish in the sea, but I know how it is here: we have happy fish. A fish is only happy if it is doing well. You can see they swim at the surface and swim together, and if we give them something, a stick or something, they come and play with it.
Q. How do you minimize the environmental impact of your plant?CR: We minimize the environmental impact per ton of fish. We use as little water as possible when compared to other production methods. We have 7,500 m of water in the plant and we are replacing one-half percent
per hour. We use around 35 m per hour, which means we reuse our water many, many times. So it’s not like we don’t discharge, but we discharge much, much less than other similar facilities. And we have the ambition to reduce our discharge amount to achieve as close to zero as possible.
We want to produce fish sustainably but we also want to make money. We do it this way primarily because it is good business: we need to make money, to be able to preserve our idealism and our sustainable approach to aquaculture. �
“We are proud to bethe 1st sustainable,
land-based aquaculturein Denmark with no
impact on theenvironment”
26 WAVE #15 CREATING VALUE FOR INDUSTRY 27
Taking fish farmingto the next levelwith Claus Rom, CEO of Sashimi Royal
Sashimi Royal is the first large-scale, land-
based facility in the EU that produces Yellowtail for sushi and sashimi. Located on the beautiful coast of Denmark, it started market deliveries in 2017 and has a total annual production of 1,200 tons. Sashimi Royal is a pioneer in marine fish spawning and fry production and is dedicated to sustainable aquaculture.
Sashimi Royal has taken a new step towards sustainable fish farming with the grow-out production of Yellowtail in its new plant located near the port of Hanstholm in Denmark. The production is based on the innovative and patented recirculating aquaculture concept RAS2020™ delivered by Krüger A/S, a Veolia Water Technologies business unit.
Claus Rom, CEO of Sashimi Royal, tells us more about his plant and the benefits he sees in using RAS2020.
Q. Tell us a little bit about your facilities Claus Rom: Consumption of fish is increasing rapidly so there is a need for farming.
We have chosen to farm fish on the land, because then we can do it sustainably and we can do it under controlled conditions. And there is room for a lot of these plants in Denmark. There is an amazing number of jobs and an amazing amount of money in it. So it will be good for Denmark. And I think it is really exciting to take part in the first stage of development.
Here in this plant, we breed yellowtail kingfish from 100 grams up to 4 kilos. They will be used for sushi, among other things.
Q. What advantage do you see in using RAS2020™?CR: We are proud to be the first sustainable, land-based aquaculture in Denmark with almost no impact on the environment. We do not vaccinate our fish and we produce fingerlings ourselves. It is a big advantage that the new RAS2020 solution is extremely compact and manageable. We do not need a large area to have a huge production site. We expect to produce up to 1,200 tons of yellowtail a year to be sold all over Europe.
Q. Why chose a land-based facility?CR: The difference between this and the ocean is that we have just brought the salt water to us. We then clean it so we don’t have pieces of plastics or parasites or anything else that the fish in the ocean may have. We don’t use medication or any other drugs. In fact, we taste the fish regularly to assess whether the water we make is the right water for the fish.
I don’t know what it is like for the fish in the sea, but I know how it is here: we have happy fish. A fish is only happy if it is doing well. You can see they swim at the surface and swim together, and if we give them something, a stick or something, they come and play with it.
Q. How do you minimize the environmental impact of your plant?CR: We minimize the environmental impact per ton of fish. We use as little water as possible when compared to other production methods. We have 7,500 m of water in the plant and we are replacing one-half percent
per hour. We use around 35 m per hour, which means we reuse our water many, many times. So it’s not like we don’t discharge, but we discharge much, much less than other similar facilities. And we have the ambition to reduce our discharge amount to achieve as close to zero as possible.
We want to produce fish sustainably but we also want to make money. We do it this way primarily because it is good business: we need to make money, to be able to preserve our idealism and our sustainable approach to aquaculture. �
“We are proud to bethe 1st sustainable,
land-based aquaculturein Denmark with no
impact on theenvironment”
28 WAVE #15 RESOURCING THE WORLD 29
Kaldnes® RASFlexibility and reliability
Kaldnes® RAS is a semi-closed loop system, with aeration and particle
removal. It is designed to maximize production while reducing pollution and water consumption.
Both salmonids and other species have proved to meet the highest quality when farmed in Kaldnes® RAS systems. At first glance, increased growth rate and high survival rate are obvious benefits. Reduced stress and increased fish welfare are other advantages provided by Veolia Water Technologies’ process.
Kaldnes RAS meets the demand for flexible and reliable water chemistry. Sudden changes that may provoke potential harmful environmental factors, such as sludge accumulation, are eliminated.A central idea behind the process is low energy input, which is why head loss in Kaldnes RAS is kept to a minimum. Typical energy consumption rarely exceeds 2 kW/kg fish produced.
A costly input factor in intensive fish farming is pure oxygen. Kaldnes RAS therefore utilizes all the available oxygen and offers special low-head oxygenating cones that ensure a full saturation with minimal pressure. Furthermore, excess available oxygen not consumed by the fish culture is utilized by the AnoxKaldnes™ Moving Bed biofilm reactor.
The underlying technologiesBiological treatment
The Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (AnoxKaldnes™ MBBR) is a Veolia proprietary
technology, and the biological engine of Kaldnes™ RAS. The MBBR technology allows the microorganisms to grow on sheltered surfaces inside moving plastic carriers, creating a continuous biofilm process without any risk of clogging and without any need for back flushing.
Solids removalBiomass from the AnoxKaldnes™ MBBR process, fish feces, and excess feed are efficiently separated with
Hydrotech™ Drumfilters, another well-known Veolia technology in the industry. The Hydrotech filters have a high hydraulic capacity, are easy to operate and provide predictable results. Typical mesh sizes are 40-90 micron, but can be delivered with mesh sizes down to 10 micron.
Aside from removing major loads off the biofilter, the screen also constitutes an
absolute filtration step, removing parasites from the recirculation loop. In some installations like eel farms, this feature has become a crucial success factor.
The result is compact plants with a very small footprint, drastically reduced use of piping, and optimization of pumping head and energy consumption. Compared to traditional flow-through hatcheries, the Kaldnes RAS system reduces water consumption by up to 99%, while removing organic matter, ammonium, nitrogen, suspended solids, CO₂ and harmful bacteria/viruses in order to avoid fish mortality. �
With proven fundamentals
for more than 20 years, Kaldnes® RAS takes fish
farming to a new level!
Capacity (Tons of smolt per year)800 850 625 1 325 900 900 1 500 1 500 4 000 4 700Tank volume (m)4 850 3 000 1 700 10 900 3 000 7 200 11 700 10 000 21 700 24 000Peak feeding (kg per day)5 000 3 200 1 500 10 000 3 500 9 000 8 000 7 500 20 400 21 600
201920172016
Smolt SeefiskOsland Steinsvik
SmoltSævareid
FiskeanleggSalmar
FollafossSalangfisk Helgeland
SmoltLerøy Sjøtroll
Kjærelva
201620122010 2017201720172017
Client
Marine HarvestClient Client
Osland SettefiskClient
Marine HarvestClient Client
SævareidFiskeanlegg
Client
SalmarClient
SalaksClient
Helgeland SmoltClient
Lerøy
Completion date
28 WAVE #15 RESOURCING THE WORLD 29
Kaldnes® RASFlexibility and reliability
Kaldnes® RAS is a semi-closed loop system, with aeration and particle
removal. It is designed to maximize production while reducing pollution and water consumption.
Both salmonids and other species have proved to meet the highest quality when farmed in Kaldnes® RAS systems. At first glance, increased growth rate and high survival rate are obvious benefits. Reduced stress and increased fish welfare are other advantages provided by Veolia Water Technologies’ process.
Kaldnes RAS meets the demand for flexible and reliable water chemistry. Sudden changes that may provoke potential harmful environmental factors, such as sludge accumulation, are eliminated.A central idea behind the process is low energy input, which is why head loss in Kaldnes RAS is kept to a minimum. Typical energy consumption rarely exceeds 2 kW/kg fish produced.
A costly input factor in intensive fish farming is pure oxygen. Kaldnes RAS therefore utilizes all the available oxygen and offers special low-head oxygenating cones that ensure a full saturation with minimal pressure. Furthermore, excess available oxygen not consumed by the fish culture is utilized by the AnoxKaldnes™ Moving Bed biofilm reactor.
The underlying technologiesBiological treatment
The Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (AnoxKaldnes™ MBBR) is a Veolia proprietary
technology, and the biological engine of Kaldnes™ RAS. The MBBR technology allows the microorganisms to grow on sheltered surfaces inside moving plastic carriers, creating a continuous biofilm process without any risk of clogging and without any need for back flushing.
Solids removalBiomass from the AnoxKaldnes™ MBBR process, fish feces, and excess feed are efficiently separated with
Hydrotech™ Drumfilters, another well-known Veolia technology in the industry. The Hydrotech filters have a high hydraulic capacity, are easy to operate and provide predictable results. Typical mesh sizes are 40-90 micron, but can be delivered with mesh sizes down to 10 micron.
Aside from removing major loads off the biofilter, the screen also constitutes an
absolute filtration step, removing parasites from the recirculation loop. In some installations like eel farms, this feature has become a crucial success factor.
The result is compact plants with a very small footprint, drastically reduced use of piping, and optimization of pumping head and energy consumption. Compared to traditional flow-through hatcheries, the Kaldnes RAS system reduces water consumption by up to 99%, while removing organic matter, ammonium, nitrogen, suspended solids, CO₂ and harmful bacteria/viruses in order to avoid fish mortality. �
With proven fundamentals
for more than 20 years, Kaldnes® RAS takes fish
farming to a new level!
Capacity (Tons of smolt per year)800 850 625 1 325 900 900 1 500 1 500 4 000 4 700Tank volume (m)4 850 3 000 1 700 10 900 3 000 7 200 11 700 10 000 21 700 24 000Peak feeding (kg per day)5 000 3 200 1 500 10 000 3 500 9 000 8 000 7 500 20 400 21 600
201920172016
Smolt SeefiskOsland Steinsvik
SmoltSævareid
FiskeanleggSalmar
FollafossSalangfisk Helgeland
SmoltLerøy Sjøtroll
Kjærelva
201620122010 2017201720172017
Client
Marine HarvestClient Client
Osland SettefiskClient
Marine HarvestClient Client
SævareidFiskeanlegg
Client
SalmarClient
SalaksClient
Helgeland SmoltClient
Lerøy
Completion date
30 WAVE #15 CREATING VALUE FOR INDUSTRY 31
A quality end-productstarts with strong biosecurity
Veolia’s RAS offering is engineeredto mitigate incoming risksBiosecure measures within a RAS facility are neccessary to produce a quality end-product.
Veolia’s recirculating aquaculture systems are built with multiple elements to help ensure biosecurity of the facility. These features include the comprehensive treatment of the incoming and recirculated water, a biosecure gate for personnel entering the facility, and a separation between biosecure and non-critical areas.
We are Ready to Help YouOur team of global aquaculture experts will help you maximize fish quality and production yield, while delivering a cost-effective and environmentally responsible solution.
www.veoliawatertechnologies.com
WATER TECHNOLOGIES
Publication Director: Élise Le Vaillant Chief editor: Clément Leveaux
Coordination: Manon PainchaudContributors to this issue: Anne Abraham, Michael Bech, Chuck Blumenschein,
Frederic Gaumet, Thomas Hofmann, Ivy Latour, Severine Le Bideau, Elise Le Vaillant,Dorota Orlowska, Manon Painchaud, TJ Willetts
Design: Veolia Water Technologies Graphic Design TeamPhoto credits: Veolia photo library / Christophe Besson / Christophe Majani d’Inguimbert /
Alexandre Dupeyron / Stephane Lavoue / Jean-Francois Pellegry / Imag’in / R. Secco / Fotolia / Krüger Kaldnes AS / iStock / Image Club
08/2019 (190314)
30 WAVE #15 CREATING VALUE FOR INDUSTRY 31
A quality end-productstarts with strong biosecurity
Veolia’s RAS offering is engineeredto mitigate incoming risksBiosecure measures within a RAS facility are neccessary to produce a quality end-product.
Veolia’s recirculating aquaculture systems are built with multiple elements to help ensure biosecurity of the facility. These features include the comprehensive treatment of the incoming and recirculated water, a biosecure gate for personnel entering the facility, and a separation between biosecure and non-critical areas.
We are Ready to Help YouOur team of global aquaculture experts will help you maximize fish quality and production yield, while delivering a cost-effective and environmentally responsible solution.
www.veoliawatertechnologies.com
WATER TECHNOLOGIES
Publication Director: Élise Le Vaillant Chief editor: Clément Leveaux
Coordination: Manon PainchaudContributors to this issue: Anne Abraham, Michael Bech, Chuck Blumenschein,
Frederic Gaumet, Thomas Hofmann, Ivy Latour, Severine Le Bideau, Elise Le Vaillant,Dorota Orlowska, Manon Painchaud, TJ Willetts
Design: Veolia Water Technologies Graphic Design TeamPhoto credits: Veolia photo library / Christophe Besson / Christophe Majani d’Inguimbert /
Alexandre Dupeyron / Stephane Lavoue / Jean-Francois Pellegry / Imag’in / R. Secco / Fotolia / Krüger Kaldnes AS / iStock / Image Club
08/2019 (190314)
@VeoliaWaterTech • Veolia Water Technologieswww.veoliawatertechnologies.com