Cooke Aquaculture Scotland has deployed its first hybrid feed barge in Shetland to further reduce its carbon footprint.
The new hybrid system, built by Fjord Maritime UK, for the Copister salmon farm site in Yell, Shetland, is the third to be implemented by Cooke Scotland.
In 2019, Cooke reviewed barge power to explore alternative sources of power supply to the company’s seawater sites in Orkney and Shetland.
The hybrid system reduces fuel consumption, carbon dioxide emissions and extends the life of the generator and equipment by using the residual capacity from the generator to charge the batteries, the salmon farmer claims.
The auxiliary diesel generator feeds electricity to the rest of the facility and upon the batteries being fully charged, the generator stops and the hybrid system operates the feed barge.
“Here at sea, we raise our fish with care, and that includes ensuring we are using the latest technology to sustainably feed them,” said Cooke Aquaculture Scotland Site Manager for Copister, Arnold Brown.
“Yell was one of six islands chosen as part of the Scottish Government’s Carbon Neutral Islands scheme and hybrid barges will contribute its ambition to make the whole country net zero by 2045.”
