This is the third in the series Ecomerden R30 with a capacity of 30,000 cubic meters. The first two were delivered to fish farmer Osland Havbruk, and are in operation in Sognefjord, Norway.
Ecomerden is a self-contained closed pen construction where the floating collar is a rigid steel frame designed to withstand rough conditions. All necessary equipment is built into and protected by the float collar.
The Eide pen has its own oxygen production, and is able to take in seawater from a depth of 46 meters. In addition, seawater can be taken in higher up in the water column.
Power consumption
The semi-enclosed cage has six individual seawater intakes with a maximum flow through the cage of six cubic meters per second. Each inlet in the pen is able to regulate its own water flow, which ensures a uniform flow rate throughout the pen volume. Until now, there have never been problems with CO2. The large volume of water flow is the cause, and since the water is pushed through the entire pen, the power consumption will be low, Ecomerden claimed in a press release.
In comparison, RAS plants will have three times greater electricity consumption to ensure sufficient water flow, the report states.
Flexible
The water flow is adapted to the fish size with a simple manoeuvre from the floating collar. The cage further consists of a flexible cloth bag which encloses a net suspended in the floating collar.
The pen construction was patented ten years ago, and will be certified according to the new NS 9415 regulations with the lowest risk class. This certification takes effect from the new year and has several stricter requirements, including that all semi-closed cages must document sufficient overpressure in the pen in addition to having reserve buoyancy when the floating collar is punctured and in the event of large salinity differences at the site.
Rates abroad
Ecomerden R30 is one of the few closed cage concepts that satisfies these new requirements for locations with significant wave height of up to 2.5 meters and 2 knots of current.
The floating collar is designed as a rigid 12-sided ring in seawater-resistant aluminum with 12 separate waterproof pontoons, which makes the cage construction light and robust. In addition, the cage is equipped with an emergency power supply and emergency oxygen supply, which ensures that good fish welfare is maintained.
Ecomerden further announces that it has entered into agreements for the delivery of several major projects at home and abroad in the wake of the Aqua Nor trade fair.
The first Ecomerden, a smaller version, was installed at Sulefisk in Solund, Norway six years ago.
