How can the aquaculture industry become a leader in the green transition?
The aquaculture industry is facing major challenges in the years ahead. The path to more sustainable aquaculture is being described as a blue change of pace
“Two future trends are being reported: onshore farms and offshore farms. The aim here is to make aquaculture more environmentally friendly and increase production at the farms,” explains Eirik Nesse, Director of Business Development at Bertel O. Steen Power Solutions AS (BOS Power).
“The green transition is also a blue transition. BOS Power is already in the driver’s seat when it comes to helping the maritime sector achieve greener and more environmentally friendly operations both offshore and onshore,” he states.
Deep sea
So-called deep sea farms will require larger and more robust facilities compared to the fish farms of today. Larger farms will produce more fish and be more profitable. But deep sea farms also require more energy, and land-based power is not an option.
According to Nesse, this means that hybrid and zero emission solutions will be necessary to reduce the climate footprint. He highlights the infrastructure in place for such farms:
“We have extensive experience of and expertise in marine energy solutions for both seagoing vessels and other installations. When it comes to aquaculture, electrifying work and support vessels create great environmental benefit,” he says, adding:
“What’s more, we can use battery packs together with the diesel generators on board the feeding fleets to reduce fossil fuel consumption. This approach substantially reduces the climate footprint. The fishing fleet are then also able to adopt our hybrid and electrical propulsion solutions as a way of reducing their climate footprint.”
Competitive advantage
The time when there will be a requirement for the entire maritime sector to operate with zero emissions is getting closer and closer. Stricter environmental requirements are being adopted with an increasingly short time horizon.
“Norway is bound by international commitments, and the aquaculture industry will benefit greatly in economic terms by introducing measures to tackle climate change. We can already see that consumers are committed to sustainability. A low climate footprint will clearly become a competitive advantage for the whole seafood industry,” continues Nesse.
BOS Power tailors solutions to the entire maritime sector. In addition to delivering efficient energy solutions, the company also offers support throughout the operation period.
“We have a large and competent service unit in place for our customers that serves the entire Nordic region, something that the fish farming industry will also benefit from.”
Innovation and development
BOS Power, which is headquartered in Bergen, focuses strongly on development and innovation.
“In short, our focus has traditionally been on propulsion for diesel boats.
But we’re now increasingly switching to hybrid propulsion systems and zero emission solutions,” says Nesse, continuing:
“Hybrid solutions where battery power takes over for periods are in particularly high demand in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
BOS Power possesses high levels of expertise in the development and delivery of hybrid and zero emission solutions, with its own department and lab in Molde dedicated to development and innovation. The company takes responsibility for complete system deliveries, designs power and control systems, and delivers integrated solutions that are fully tested and certified for vessels and other installations.
In addition to developing hybrid and zero emission solutions, BOS Power is the Nordic distributor for the well-known mtu motors.
Zero emission ferry in composite materials
BOS Power recently participated in the development of the world’s first all-electric composite ferry.
“We supplied the electric propulsion system for the Barmen ferry. The project was a collaboration with the innovative environment surrounding the R&D company Easy Form and the shipbuilder Måløy Verft in Sogn og Fjordane.”
BOS Power is repeating the success with its partners at Måløy this year. The all-electric passenger boat ‘Ole Bull’ is nearing completion. It will be carrying passengers back and forth to the composer Ole Bull’s home on Lysøen in Os.
“We are also supplying proprietary solutions for this project, including battery packs, the charging system, electric motor, distribution boards and an energy management system for the boat,” concludes Nesse.