Fjell Technology Group produces fertiliser from fish sludge and wastewater

Land-based fish farming is an expanding industry, which will continue to grow in the coming years. With more fish farms being established on land, however, waste management becomes an increasing concern.

The land-based farms must dispose of fish sludge consisting mainly of uneaten fish feed and faeces. Fish sludge contains heavy metals such as zinc, nickel and cadmium, but also nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus.

Waste is also an ongoing concern for many municipalities and waste management authorities, who have to manage public sewage and waste streams for growing populations.

Fjell Technology Group has created technology for drying fish sludge and other types of wastewater and separating its contents for reuse.

The machinery can be installed at any land-based fish farming facility or wastewater plant. It can dry sludge from 0.1 per cent dry substance (ds) and up to 99 per cent ds.

Fjell’s dryer design is patented and market-leading, and for drying large volumes of sludge it is the most energy-efficient dryer available on the market.

The dried sludge is repurposed as an additive for producing fertiliser, or in other agricultural products that rely on nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus.

Fjell’s technology contributes to a circular economy by recycling heavy metals and nutrients from sludge and wastewater.

The solution helps fish farmers and municipal waste plants to minimise the need for waste management and transport, which cuts both costs and emissions from production and treatment processes.

Fjell Technology Group estimates that the market for drying sludge in aquaculture is in Norway alone worth more than USD 75 million. Worldwide, the figure is much larger. For municipal wastewater plants, meanwhile, the global market is enormous and on a whole different scale.

Fjell Technology Group (FTG) was established by Stord Bartz in 1980 as a local supplier of equipment for fishmeal plants, rendering plants, and alcohol by-product plants. In 2000, when Stord was split, FTG took over production with improved technology for fishmeal plants, including a new patented dryer design, which is still the market leader. FTG has delivered its biowaste handling equipment worldwide, including to Germany, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Norway and Saudi Arabia.