An enterprising engineering firm has joined forces with a leading Scottish salmon producer marking a new green age for the aquaculture industry.
The MANTA converter – created by Aqua power Technologies – converts wave energy to power and will be trialled at a farm owned by Scottish Sea Farms.
Scottish Sea Farms which has salmon hatcheries, farms, and processing plants all over the region said the device will be operated at its Teisti Geo Farm site on the Shetland Islands.
The converter – which has been specifically created for the aquaculture industry – intends to produce enough electricity to power feeding systems, underwater lighting and acoustic predator deterrents, to reduce Scottish Sea Farms’ reliance on diesel and fossil fuels.
Talking to The Shetland News, Aqua Power Technologies founder Sam Etherington said: “Latest estimates suggest that wave and tidal power has the potential to deliver 20 per cent of the UK’s electricity needs.
“Capturing that power however, has proven complex. The manta takes an altogether different approach, using lightweight large surface area wings to harness the full power of the waves in a way that’s low cost, efficient and easy to maintain.”
The energy created during the trial will be registered via the device’s in-built monitoring system. This is to determine exactly how much electricity Scotland’s coastline is capable of making, and if that energy can be sustained throughout the year.
Scottish Sea farms managing director Jim Gallagher added: “Salmon farming already has the lowest carbon footprint of all the farming sectors and this trial, if successful, could hold the key to enhancing those credentials even further.
“It’s part of a long-standing drive to ensure our practices are as responsible and sustainable as possible, with minimum environmental impact and maximum gain for Scotland.”
