Terrrak, Norway-based Svaberget Smolt has contracted with Eindhoven, The Netherlands-based Signify to provide a lighting solution to promote optimal growing conditions at its new recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) smolt grow-out center, Signify announced on 9 February.
Akva Group designed the RAS farm, which cost approximately NOK 600 million (USD 59.2 million, EUR 55.2 million) to build.
Svaberget Smolt's farm has been equipped with a lighting system from Signify to “control the growth and life cycle of land-based farming salmon,” Signify said in a press release. Svaberget Smolt, jointly owned by Emilsen Fisk and SinkabergHansen, began operations in April 2021 and will produce up to 4,000 metric tons of smolt annually, with an average weight of 500 grams per fish.
“The advantage of this system is that we give the fish the right light intensity at all times. This lighting solution and control system allow us to control the timing of smoltification, which means the salmon can safely grow to post-smolt,” SinkabergHansen Hatchery Group Manager Elling M. Bøkestad said.
Signify designed its lighting design by taking into account the specific size and depth of the Svabergen Smolt facility, and incorporated patented salmon-specific grow lights designed and manufactured by Philips. Its system is expected to optimize smolt growth through the provision of 30 percent more light than comparable systems.
“SinkabergHansen built the facility and Signify designed a custom lighting solution for us. It has worked well. Both the delivery and installation of the lighting were a success,” Bøkestad said. “We chose Signify to supply us with Philips Aquaculture LED lighting due to both its price and quality. The right lighting is financially favorable.”
According to Signify, the lights can dim to 0.3 percent of output without flickering, and come with control systems that are customizable to several pools or tanks and can be monitored and controlled separately. This ensures light is distributed appropriately throughout the tank. The farm can simulate lighting conditions with 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of nighttime, or set the light to trigger winter smoltification, the company said in a press release.
Photo courtesy of Signify
