154 H. N. Sandvold et al.
Immature technology
Drying the sludge gives it a higher stability for storage, makes transport easier
and cheaper and increases the fuel value. In biogas production, for example,
at least 20% dry raw material is needed. However, the technology for drying
is a bottleneck in re- use of the organic waste.
The experience with this technology is limited. Few of the hatcheries have
invested in in- house knowledge of how to run drying facilities. Furthermore,
the ones that have this are not satisfied with the technology and the labour
resources required for running these systems. Current systems are difficult and
costly to run. All the fish farms interviewed report that the largest motivation
for this kind of investment is to reduce the costs in the end of the entire fish
production process, and the drying technology has not developed to a stage
where this is the case.
Another potential solution mentioned by the Danish firm was to explore
algae that could break down the sludge and produce omega- 3 fatty acids.
Nonetheless, the volume of waste from this firm was not sufficiently large to
warrant an exploration into this emerging technology. Theoretically, the
waste could also be incorporated into a full aquaponics cycle, producing both
fish and (hydroponic) vegetables, though this has not yet been demonstrated
at scale.
Likewise, many firms recognised that there were other emerging technologies available for better procurement and transport of waste, but that this
required investment in infrastructure and labour that, economically, would be
more profitably directed towards other activities, such as procurement of
nearby wind turbines to provide electricity to the facility. Essentially, handling of waste was not a high priority for the fish production firms in terms of
their current economies and business models.
8.5 Analysis
8.5.1 Barriers for new pathways
Lack of available technology
Lack of knowledge related both to biological and technological aspects could
be a barrier to realising the potential of the suggested new valorisation pathways. Many technologies are still in proof of concept or demonstration stages
and it is still costly to invest in them.
Economic priorities
Fish waste does not have much value with respect to the total operating
budget. The cost of producing salmon is much higher on land, and the economic incentives and willingness to invest in large- scale processing of the
Immature technology
Drying the sludge gives it a higher stability for storage, makes transport easier
and cheaper and increases the fuel value. In biogas production, for example,
at least 20% dry raw material is needed. However, the technology for drying
is a bottleneck in re- use of the organic waste.
The experience with this technology is limited. Few of the hatcheries have
invested in in- house knowledge of how to run drying facilities. Furthermore,
the ones that have this are not satisfied with the technology and the labour
resources required for running these systems. Current systems are difficult and
costly to run. All the fish farms interviewed report that the largest motivation
for this kind of investment is to reduce the costs in the end of the entire fish
production process, and the drying technology has not developed to a stage
where this is the case.
Another potential solution mentioned by the Danish firm was to explore
algae that could break down the sludge and produce omega- 3 fatty acids.
Nonetheless, the volume of waste from this firm was not sufficiently large to
warrant an exploration into this emerging technology. Theoretically, the
waste could also be incorporated into a full aquaponics cycle, producing both
fish and (hydroponic) vegetables, though this has not yet been demonstrated
at scale.
Likewise, many firms recognised that there were other emerging technologies available for better procurement and transport of waste, but that this
required investment in infrastructure and labour that, economically, would be
more profitably directed towards other activities, such as procurement of
nearby wind turbines to provide electricity to the facility. Essentially, handling of waste was not a high priority for the fish production firms in terms of
their current economies and business models.
8.5 Analysis
8.5.1 Barriers for new pathways
Lack of available technology
Lack of knowledge related both to biological and technological aspects could
be a barrier to realising the potential of the suggested new valorisation pathways. Many technologies are still in proof of concept or demonstration stages
and it is still costly to invest in them.
Economic priorities
Fish waste does not have much value with respect to the total operating
budget. The cost of producing salmon is much higher on land, and the economic incentives and willingness to invest in large- scale processing of the