Sterner techonolgy secures sludge treatment at Fredrikstad Seafoods
- 27. mars 2023
The leading Norwegian water treatment company Sterner will be supplying their technology for fish sludge treatment to Fredrikstad Seafoods. They are now focusing on complete resource exploitation in their commitment to landbased aquaculture of a new and exotic fish species.
Fredrikstad Seafoods announced last year that they will be producing Yellowtail Kingfish, and that production would start over the next year. Sterner are supplying the technology for treating the sludge from the system which will then be converted to biogas by Frevar in Fredrikstad.
‘This is exciting for us. Our technology for sludge treatment is the most advanced in the industry and we are looking forward to a more sustainable aquaculture industry as well as learning more about this special fish’, says Robert Eliassen, Head of Sustainability and Circular Economy in Sterner.
Sterner’s sludge treatment technology at Fredrikstad Seafoods was tested with great success on Yellowtail Kingfish. The pilot project in Denmark was run by Sashimi Royal, a sister company of Fredriksatd Seafoods. This project was decisive in Sterner having the possibility of establishing the full-scale technology in cooperation with Fredrikstad Seafoods.
‘We chose Sterner as our partner due to their leading position with respect to sludge treatment and their competence in sustainable aquaculture’, says Roger Fredriksen from Fredrikstad Seafoods. ‘Sludge treatment is essential for maintaining a healthy and sustainable organisation in aquaculture. Sterner have demonstrated an expertise and duty to sustainability which makes them the perfect partner for us.’
Dewatered sludge will be delivered for biogas production. Eliassen (Sterner) illustrates that this is about the exploitation of Sterner’s expertise and technology while maintaining focus on sustainability and circular economy. The current climate is about the exploitation of all resources, including sludge. Eliassen is convinced the results will meet all expectations, particularly considering the number of similar systems Sterner have in operation and on reviewing current operational data.
‘Several companies are progressing positively with respect to land-based aquaculture, from both production and technological viewpoints. Waste treatment has been a challenge for several years and we now have the technology that doesn’t just contribute to sustainability in production, but also secures the production of electrical and heat energy, which is in high demand, from the sludge. From now on, this is the way to consider all production facilities’. He adds.
Fredrikstad Seafoods are aiming to start with yellowtail kingfish production in the second or third quarter of 2023. Sterner and Fredrikstad Seafoods will work together to ensure that this project is a success and that the system will be a model for future sustainable aquaculture.
‘‘This is exciting for us. Our technology for sludge treatment is the most advanced in the industry and we are looking forward to a more sustainable aquaculture industry as well as learning more about this special fish’, says Robert Eliassen, Head of Sustainability and Circular Economy in Sterner.
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Briefly about Sterner
- Norwegian group that specializes in technology for water purification and water treatment
- The group has a leading position in Norway within RAS facilities and wellboat technology, as well as within purification of drinking- and wastewater.
- The group has also specialized in the treatment of sludge from aquaculture facilities, and has, among other things, developed world-leading technology for biogas production from fish sludge as the sole raw material.
- The parent company Sterner Group AS, owns the companies Sterner AS, Sterner Seafood AS, Sterner Solutions AS og Sterner Egypt AS. Total turnover in 2021 was NOK 273 million.
- Sterner was established in 1990, and today the Sterner group has 100 employees and has operations in the Norwegian regions Ski, Grenland, Bergen and Leknes in Northern Norway.
Briefly about Fredrikstad Seafoods
- Norwegian company that has been farming salmon to slaughter-ready size since 2019.
• Located in Fredrikstad.
• Subsidiary of Nordic Aquafarms Europe.
• Sister company of Maximus AS and Sashimi Royal AS, North Jylland in Denmark.
• 17 permanent employees.
• Starts production of Yellowtail Kingfish in the summer of 2023.
• Expected production in 2024 approx. 1,000 tonnes, but gradually increasing.
