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Nyhed

apr 22
0

Icelandic fish farm uses Danish know-how

By | Nyhed

Icelandic fish farm uses Danish know-how

On Heimaey in Iceland, an impressive project is rising these years: The land-based fish farm LAXEY, which will provide the world market with 32,000 tonnes of Atlantic salmon a year. Danish company A-Consult is contracted to build concrete tanks on-site for part of the project.

The fish farming will take place in closed tanks filled with clean seawater. The water is pumped up through a hybrid flow-through system and cleaned thoroughly before being returned to the sea. The sea temperature in the Westman Islands makes the location ideal for the purpose, Bragi Magnússon explains. He is the construction manager at LAXEY and has been involved in the project since 2021.

48 tanks in all

The project started out in 2018. An environmental assessment for the area begun by then and is now coming to an end as well as the final design for the plant. Bragi says:

– The whole project has seven phases: The first phase – establishing the hatchery – is ending this summer. Next phase – building the first eight tanks – is expected to be completed, so that the tanks are ready for use by January 2025. The following five phases will last one year each, establishing eight tanks a year. The total project comprising 48 tanks in all is expected finished by 2030.

Reducing the carbon footprint

A high-quality product is of course crucial to LAXEY. But a lot of effort is also put into producing in an environmentally friendly way. Only electrical energy is used in the farming as well as oxygen produced with electricity on site. The waste is filtered from the effluent and can be used for a fertilizer for land, just as the effluent itself can be used in shellfish or seaweed cultivation.

Establishing a hatchery as part of the project contributes to reducing the carbon footprint as it will not require transport over long distances. So does casting the panels in Iceland for the concrete tanks on-site, Bragi explains:

– It was important to us, that A-Consult was willing to build the tanks in Iceland. That gives us less expenses for transport and is also better for the environment.

The short production span and quick installation of the tanks from A-Consult also fits the project well because of the climate and the changing seasons on Iceland.

Supervising across borders

LAXEY chose A-Consult to build the concrete tanks after researching similar projects in other countries, Bragi tells:

– We have been looking at for example Norway and are impressed of A-Consult’s solutions for aqua farming. Their products fit our needs regarding i.e. the closed tanks.

The tanks with concrete roofs are pre-designed with all necessary openings for equipment, pipes etc., and act as independent, robust buildings. This saves the need for a large facility building to protect the tanks.

The construction of the concrete tanks is carried out at the local factory Einingaverksmiðinn. Ole Borg, technical production manager at A-Consult in Denmark, has traveled to Iceland four times during the last six months to supervise the project. Each tank consists of 42 wall panels, and A-Consult provides the moulds for the wall panels.

Building on-site has several advantages, Ole points out:

– Each wall panel weighs about 14 tonnes. Shipping the panels would be a heavy task. Furthermore, the factory here has excellent equipment and a dedicated staff.

When visiting the factory in Iceland, Ole enjoys working with the staff, that he finds very welcoming and easy-going people. He says:

– I work on many projects similar to this around Europe. A-Consult also has local production partners in other countries. I like meeting people and getting to know new places. The nature in Iceland is just amazing and although I spend most of the day at the factory, I can’t avoid noticing the beautiful surroundings.

The land-based fish farm on Heimaey

  • LAXEY has worked on the project since 2018. The total project will be completed by 2030.
  • The first phase of the fish farm is expected to be ready for use in 2025.
  • The project will be employing around 200 people during the construction phase and 120 people when in full operation.
  • Danish A-Consult provides concrete tanks for similar projects at i.e. Indre Harøy on the Norwegian west coast.
aug 30
0

Concrete tanks rising at sustainable fish farm

By | Nyhed, Ukategoriseret

Concrete tanks rising at sustainable fish farm

Four tanks in function at the end of March 2022. That is the first goal for new, sustainable fish farm of Salmon Evolution on the Norwegian west coast. In all, the project comprises 48 tanks with an annual capacity of 36.000 tons. A huge project that takes good planning and motivated workers, says project director at Salmon Evolution, Kamilla Mordal Holo.

At the moment, Kamilla and her colleagues are focusing on finishing the installation of the first four tanks. They are happy that they chose concrete tanks as a solution, Kamilla states:

– We see concrete as a good choice. The tanks are robust, and we get this finish inside them that is smooth and easily washable. Furthermore, the tank construction is flexible – we have been able to adjust it to our purpose and place e.g. the doors where it was convenient.

Tanks arrive precast

The concrete tanks from the Danish company A-Consult arrive precast, and it takes around 14 days to install two tanks. The corona pandemic has presented smaller delays in the process, but nothing that will affect the overall time schedule.

Parallel to the installation of the tanks, Salmon Evolution is also building up the organization of the plant at Indre Harøy. Kamilla explains:

– When fully operating the first four tanks in 2022, we will have a staff of 25-30 workers in different functions. In 2028, the fish farm at Indre Harøy is expected to employ around 80 people. It takes some time to build up an organization like that.

First harvest ready for Christmas dinner

Crucial to a project this size with a lot of development is good planning and clear communication, says Kamilla. She is impressed by the motivation and focus of everyone on the construction site. Also, the ability to be solution-oriented is very important to the whole project.

When finished with the first four tanks in March 2022, the fish farm will set out the first batch of salmon. Inside the concrete tanks, each with a net capacity of 5.000 m3, the salmon is raised in seawater. Due to a hybrid flow-through system, 65 % of the water can be reused, and 35 % is new supply in the form of filtered fresh seawater. Combining clean and fresh seawater with reused water means, that energy consumption for pumping and heating of water is minimized. Waste and feed residues from the production are collected and used as raw material for biogas production and fertilizer.

At the end of 2022, the new land-based fish farm of Salmon Evolution will be able to deliver the first harvest of app. 100.000 salmon. Kamilla says:

– We expect to be able to provide the consumers with salmon for the Christmas dinner 2022.

Fact box:

The sustainable fish farm of Salmon Evolution

  • The total land-based fish farm of Salon Evolution includes 48 water tanks and will be completed in 2028.
  • First phase of four concrete tanks will be finished and ready for use at the end of March 2022.
  • The concrete tanks are built and delivered by the Danish company A-Consult, specialized in robust tank solutions.
  • Salmon Evolution is a member of the Norwegian aquaculture cluster. The company is driven by a highly competent team backed by strong industrial owners.

 

jun 30
0

Fleksible gylletanke på Færøerne

By | Nyhed

Fleksible gylletanke på Færøerne

Gylle fra får, køer og andre færøske husdyr er i god behold i gylletanke af dansk fabrikat. A-Consult vil i løbet af 2021 installere i alt 18 gylletanke til 15 forskellige landbrug på Færøerne – tanke, der er tilpasset det ofte blæsende og regnfulde vejrlig og de stigende krav til miljøhensyn.

På Færøerne er man, som i resten af verden, optaget af klimaproblematik og naturbeskyttelse i disse år. Det gælder også for ø-rigets landmænd, der udnytter husdyraffald fra bedriften til gødning på markerne. Gyllen skal opbevares, så man effektivt reducerer fordampningen af kvælstof og får en bedre udnyttelse af gødningen. Landbrug på Færøerne er imidlertid ofte relativt små, og det stiller krav til tilpasning af kapaciteten i gylletankene.

Skaleret og tilpasset løsning

A-Consult har løst opgaven på Færøerne ved at producere gylletanke, der er skaleret til bedrifternes størrelse – helt ned til 4 meter i højden. Samtidig tilbyder firmaet overdækning af tankene med beton, til forskel fra den gængse tank-top, der er produceret i PVC.

Andreas Sloth er konsulent hos A-Consult og specialiseret i tank-løsninger til landbruget. Han fortæller:
– Beton-overdækningen er særligt velegnet til det færøske klima, der er præget af kraftig blæst. Overdækningen kan holde til vinden, sikrer fuldstændig indkapsling og sørger desuden for, at emissioner fra gyllen nedbringes. Det giver landmændene en bedre gødningsværdi og er derfor en rigtig god investering.

Nyt tiltag til omstilling af energisektor

De 15 landmænd på Færøerne har med installation af de tilpassede gylletanke fra A-Consult taget et vigtigt skridt mod lokal udnyttelse af husdyrgødning.

Men også på mere nationalt plan arbejder Færøerne med bæredygtig udnyttelse af ressourcerne. Den store lakseproducent Bakkafrost åbnede for nylig Færøernes første biogasanlæg, der skal bidrage til at omstille landets forsyning til vedvarende energi inden 2030. Anlægget kan årligt omsætte 100.000 ton bioaffald fra både lakseproduktion og landbrugssektoren til klimavenlig varme og energi. Et tiltag, der vil spare atmosfæren for udledning af 11.000 ton CO2 hvert år.

Fleksible gylletanke

  • Over 30 års erfaring med produktion af gylletanke i både ind- og udland.
  • Tankene bygges i betonelementer med EPDM-tætningslister, der har 10 års tæthedsgaranti.
  • Gylletankene leveres som standard med PVC-top, men er på Færøerne tilpasset til klimaet med en særlig betonoverdækning.

INFORMACJE TECHNICZNE

 

Hidden Strength

The Aqua-Tank is constructed using high specification concrete panels held together by a series of circumferential 7 wire PE-sheeted grease impregnated tendons. The tendon is coated in a highly corrosion-resistant grease conforming to the recommendations of both the American Post Tensioning Institute and the FIB. The PE-sheeting is formed by the continuous hot extrusion of high density polyethylene or polypropylene to a minimum redial thickness of between 1.00mm and 2.00mm, again conforming to recommendations of both the American Post Tensioning Institute and the FIB.

 

Panel Seal

The Aqua-Tank panel seal is unique due to the use of a patented, WRAS approved, substantial EPDM Rubber strip, which absorbs the movement to which every tank is subjected; e.g. seasonal weather changes, variation in liquid level and external pressure from back-fill. Its elasticity is resistant to ammonia and ultra violet light, and with a life expectancy in excess of the concrete panels themselves results in no maintenance on this area for the structures total design life.

 

Panel to Base Seal

The panel to base seal is typically performed by applying a rebate solution to the base slab. The A-Consult panels can be provided with dowel bars if required. Below shows a typical ring beam section showing how an effective seal is achieved by utilising the step in the base slab along with the correct placement of three strips of hydrotite. Additional security can be achieved during the construction of the in-situ ring beam by forming a small rebate to the inside face and then by filling this rebate with an elastic polyurethane sealant after the ring beam has cured.