Summer Update

While having spent most of July resting in the sun, the RAScue team has returned from summer vacation, and the project work is well underway. Therefore, it is time for the first RAScue update.

Exploring integrated RAS

Project coordinator Szilvia Haide has been examining the energy intensity of a typical RAS (Recirculating Aquaculture System). Haide reports the system’s energy demand to be particularly impacted by the energy requirements for pumping, heating and cooling, and the operation of the on-site equipment. Nevertheless, the electricity demand for fish farms varies significantly in literature. According to Haide, this is due to multiple factors which will be listed in the final report.

The report on the integrated RAS study will be published in the fall.

Furthermore, energy specialist Edvard Nordlund has begun the ESDS modelling of RAS. ESDS, short for Energy System Design Service, is a Flexens service for realistic modelling and simulation of energy projects. Using ESDS, Nordlund is conducting detailed modelling of RAS electricity consumption and is looking into integrating renewable energy technologies and sourcing oxygen from an electrolyser.

Welcoming Mukesh Basnet

The nutrient recovery study has also been launched with the start of intern Mukesh Basnet. Mukesh is conducting a feasibility study on how fish sludge could be converted into fertiliser.

“The fertiliser potential of organic fish waste and sludge from aquaculture has been overlooked until now. I am super excited to conduct the feasibility study on finding the best possible method of fertiliser production from fish sludge, simultaneously figuring out the replacement of artificial fertiliser and reducing nutrient leakage to the Baltic Sea.”

Mukesh Basnet

The report on the feasibility study will also be published this fall.  

Picture: Mukesh Basnet

Stay tuned for more RAScue updates, which will be published under News.