A cod farming operation located near the fjords (deep, narrow inlets) of Norway raised fish for many years in the cool waters of the region. In addition to supporting the farm’s operation, several floating cages were used to grow fish at the site.
Large, black, ring-shaped objects began appearing on the surface of the water, relatively close to where other fish were being grown in floating enclosures (the “neighborhood” pens).
Why were large black solar rings floating beside a cod farm?
A new role for old fish cages
The rings brought together fish farming and a type of technology more commonly associated with rooftops and land-based facilities.
Alida is one of several farms owned by Ode, a Norwegian cod farming company.
As stated by the company, all of its fish farming sites have access to shore power; this means there is no longer any need for diesel-powered generators at those specific sites. This is part of an effort to lower its greenhouse gas emissions and expand its utilization of renewable energy sources throughout all of its operations.
It is also now implementing electrically powered systems at select sites. These efforts are intended to provide greater energy independence and reduce the company’s overall environmental footprint.
Instead of building a completely separate energy-generating station elsewhere, Ode decided to look at what was already available at one of its existing facilities.
The end result was a new project initiated adjacent to the existing cod farming operation while production continued in nearby pens.
Floating solar arrives beside a cod farm
A floating solar installation was placed in Voldsfjorden, in Møre og Romsdal, Norway. The project consists of a 160 kWp double-ring floating solar installation operating on the surface of the water.
Upon commissioning, the project was identified as the world’s northernmost floating solar installation.
According to Ocean Sun, the installation was designed to withstand the challenging marine environment of the region, including winter storms.
At the Alida site, Ode Company introduced an Alotta Solar Hybrid system using repurposed fish cages to host floating solar panels.
Unlike conventional solar facilities built on land, the solar rings floated directly on top of the water. It was easy to identify them visually because of their distinctive circular shape and dark appearance.
The rings were not located at a separate energy site. Instead, they floated alongside an active commercial cod farm.
Although their appearance differed from traditional fish farming equipment, their location and design were clearly connected to the aquaculture facility next door.
Despite this background information, it still was not entirely clear why these large black circles had been placed beside an operational cod farm.
What were those black solar rings?
Ode explained that the black circular structures originated from repurposed fish cages that had been adapted for a new purpose. Specifically, according to the company, former fish cages at the Alida site were repurposed to host an Alotta Solar Hybrid system consisting of floating solar panels.
According to Ode, the project marked the beginning of a broader renewable-energy initiative at the company.
The company also stated that the initiative was intended to reduce emissions and strengthen energy independence.
Rather than discarding older fish farming infrastructure after it had fulfilled its original role, Ode chose to adapt the existing cages into part of a renewable energy project. The installation therefore allowed the site to support two separate activities at the same time.
Cod farming continued in adjacent pens while the repurposed cages supported electricity generation on the surface of the fjord.
The black solar rings were former fish cages that had been given a second job as floating solar installations.
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