Salmon farmer says aeration compressor system helped cut its carbon emissions

Cermaq Canada cites Poseidon Ocean Systems’ Flowpressor improving efforts to fit algae blooms

Cermaq Canada says it cut more than 76,000 kg of carbon dioxide emissions from its operations last year using a new aeration technology provided by Poseidon Ocean Systems, a maker of floating steel cage closed-containment fish farming systems in British Columbia.

Cermaq deployed Poseidon’s new Flowpressor™ aeration compressor systems at two of its 16 operational farm sites in British Columbia from May through November 2021. Cermaq used the Flowpressors to power its standard Harmful Algae Bloom systems instead of conventional diesel compressors.

The reduction in emissions was the result of trialing Poseidon’s new Flowpressor™ aeration compressor systems at two of Cermaq’s 16 operational farm sites in British Columbia. The trial took place at the Simmonds Point and Wehlis Bay farms from May through November 2021 and involved using Flowpressors to power Cermaq’s standard Harmful Algae Bloom systems instead of conventional diesel compressors.

“The trial demonstrated the viability of the Flowpressor technology to power our existing conventional bloom mitigation equipment while producing 60 percent less greenhouse gas emissions,” said Brock Thomson, Cermaq Canada’s innovation director. “The overall result is that we have slashed emissions and dramatically reduced our fuel costs while improving overall performance of the mitigation system.”

“We’re thrilled with the results of the trial,” said Matt Clarke, CEO and co-founder of Poseidon Ocean Systems. “When we developed this technology we projected a 60 percent reduction in emissions while also improving the performance of their aeration systems, but I think it was fair for customers to be a bit skeptical of those claims. Now that we’ve delivered as promised, we couldn’t be happier. This is a result our engineering team can be very proud of.”

Poseidon’s Flowpressor technology earned Innovate BC’s first-ever Aquaculture Innovation Award last year. Poseidon was then awarded a BC Fast Pilot Program grant of more than $180,000 to develop an oxygen-generating variant of Flowpressor, dubbed Oxypressor, which will be trialed at a Cermaq site this year.

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“Cermaq Canada has been at the leading edge of life support systems development globally, as you can see with their extensive use of highly efficient oxygenation systems as well as advanced aeration systems and their trials with floating closed containment systems,” Clarke said. “We expect that Poseidon can help Cermaq achieve the accomplishment of having the greenest life-support systems in the world.”

Poseidon, based in Campbell River, B.C., specializes in saltwater aquaculture infrastructure and life-support design, engineering, product development and supply. The company is headquartered in Campbell River, British Columbia.

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