Heat pump maker receives repeat order from Salmon Evolution

The contractor building the second phase of land-based fish farmer Salmon Evolution’s facility in Norway has ordered six super-efficient heat pumps for the project.

The pumps and seawater exchangers have a total heating capacity exceeding 100,000 kW and will be supplied to Salmon Evolution contractor Artec Aqua by Norwegian company PTG Frionordica, which also supplied the pumps for the first phase of the fish farm at Indre Harøy on the northwest coast of Norway.

Each heat pump has a capacity of 5,000 to 6,000 kW, heating approximately 40,000 litres of water per minute with a Coefficient of Performance (COP) exceeding 12. Higher COPs equate to higher efficiency and lower energy consumption. For comparison, a domestic heat pump COP is generally between 2 and 3, although bigger, industrial units have more potential for efficiencies.

Each unit to be delivered contains over 12 km of titanium tubing, around 5,000 welds, and weighs more than 20 tonnes. The heat pumps are entirely manufactured at PTG Frionordica’s facility in Malmefjorden, Hustadvika municipality, just a few miles from Indre Harøy.

Exceptionally efficient

“These are exceptionally efficient heat pumps. For every kilowatt of energy we input, we get more than 30 kW in return when considering the entire energy system - a very worthwhile investment. This outstanding efficiency not only reduces energy consumption but also ensures optimal fish health and growth, as precise temperature control is critical to the aquaculture process,” said Arild Vikan, project manager at Salmon Evolution.

PTG Frionordica will deliver the first of six heat pumps as early as August 2025, ensuring consistent production activity for an extended period. This provides PTG Frionordica with a stable workload at its factory, which employs around 60 staff and apprentices.

“This contract is a significant milestone for us as we continue to focus on the market for land-based salmon farming,” said the company’s sales and marketing director Johnny Valle.

“We place a strong emphasis on expertise, innovation, and quality in our products. Through our collaboration with Artec Aqua and Salmon Evolution, we’ve had the opportunity to further develop and enhance our solutions. We are proud of the trust they’ve once again placed in us.”

Solid delivery

Ole Gunnar Lyngstad, project manager at Artec Aqua, said PTG Frionordica’s solid delivery during the first construction phase was a decisive factor in Artec’s choice of supplier for the second phase of Salmon Evolution’s hybrid recirculation / flow-through facility, which will take production capacity to around 18,000 gutted weight tonnes.

“It’s also encouraging to see local companies contributing to the value creation happening at Salmon Evolution’s facility on Indre Harøy,” added Lyngstad.