© Euan Myles
The project, led by Bakkafrost Scotland, has a total investment value of more than £2.5 million. In a first for Scotland, it will use a process known as pyrolysis, which heats waste in the absence of oxygen to create biochar for use in the forestry sector.
“We welcome this innovative project, that turns what was a waste stream into a product that enhances the natural environment. It also reduces the volume of waste that needs to be transported out of the area in line with the business’s commitment to reduce its impact on the environment,’’ said Alastair Nicolson, HIE’s area manager for Lochaber Skye and Wester Ross, in a press release.
Bakkafrost is one of the country’s largest farmed salmon producers. Since acquiring the Scottish Salmon Company in 2019, Bakkafrost has made significant strategic investments in Scotland, most notably in a new recirculating aquaculture system hatchery at Kishorn in Wester Ross.
This new hatchery enables the business to produce their own smolts at an increased volume and size. The enclosed system captures fish waste, which will then be processed in the new pyrolysis facility.
“In a recirculating aquaculture system facility like our Applecross site, quantities of waste materials are generated which must be separated from the water. Traditionally, this material has been considered as waste for disposal, but technological advancements have allowed us to introduce an environmentally friendly management process to convert waste and produce fertiliser for use in forestry,’’ said Ian Laister, managing director at Bakkafrost Scotland.
