This continuous working relationship is an excellent example of bringing together the best of two worlds: the operational knowledge from running the fish farm and the technical expertise of the RAS designer.

The journey started in 2008 with the installation of a hatchery for incubation of eyed salmon eggs, followed by a start-feeding module together with a fry/smolt system, all designed according to the principles of Recirculation Aquaculture System (RAS) technology. In 2015, production was expanded with a new and larger RAS facility for post-smolt to meet the growing demand at MOWI’s sea sites.

The AKVA group Zero Water Concept (ZWC) has been implemented in all RAS systems to save water and reduce discharge from the RAS before final treatment in the wastewater treatment system (WWT).

During the rapid growth at Nordheim, AKVA group has delivered many auxiliary systems to complete the functionality of this smolt complex, including intake water treatment systems for fresh- and seawater, cooling systems, heat pumps, emergency back-up systems, feeding systems, and more.

In 2019, AKVA group expanded further by installing two large post-smolt RAS facilities on site with a total tank volume capacity of 13,000 m³ and a peak feeding load of 10,000 kg per day, enabling production of fish up to 300–400 grams.

In 2024, AKVA group completed the installation of two new parr/smolt systems and one post-smolt system, together providing a capacity of 20,000 m³ tank volume and 15,000 kg feed per day. With these additions, the total yearly output from Nordheim is now 6,000 tons of post-smolt with an average size of 700 grams before transfer to the sea farms.

Producing larger post-smolt reduces the grow-out time at sea and lowers exposure to biological threats and other risks at sea sites. Overall, this improves MOWI’s sea farming logistics, resulting in more efficient production cycles, higher survival rates, and greater final output of salmon ready for harvest.

At AKVA group, we are proud and excited to be part of this ever-growing project, and we look forward to many more years of pioneering smolt farming together with the team at MOWI Nordheim.