Aurora Abalone and Icelandic Sturgeon also make use of these facilities.
Stolt Sea Farm
Stolt Sea Farm (SSF) has celebrated its tenth anniversary of operations in warm seawater at the Icelandic aquaculture park that belongs to the HS Orka geothermal power plant on the Reykjanes Peninsula.
In 2011, the Spanish-based aquaculture producer found the ideal location in southwest Iceland to establish its sole production operations. During the setup, all natural resources were utilized, including sustainable geothermal heat energy from HS Orka and Arctic seawater filtered through lava.
"We tested the water quality, and it was quite unique. This warm water could be mixed with cold seawater, giving the perfect temperature for sole of 22ºC all year round. At the same time, there is a huge opportunity for diversification, as water temperatures can be kept at different profiles," James Hall, SSF’s Aquaculture Development Manager, explained.
A year later, and after approval from the Icelandic authorities, SSF agreed to collaborate with HS Orka to produce fish sustainably in a high-tech, low-energy aquaculture facility. The first harvest took place in 2014.
Shortly after, abalone farmer Aurora Abalone and caviar producer Icelandic Sturgeon saw the benefits of the move and agreed with SSF to share its infrastructure and establish their sustainable seafood production.
Regarding these partnerships, President Jordi Trias said: "We are excited that highly innovative companies have come together to harness this pristine environment in a sustainable way and reinforce Iceland’s reputation for quality food products."
Additionally, HS Orka's EVP of Strategy, Improvement and the Resource Park, Jón Ásgeirsson, expressed: "We are pleased to see more aquaculture companies coming together, and this is fully in line with the sustainable and cascaded use of resources which our Resource Park stands for. Together with the land-based salmon farm project of Samherji fiskeldi, this is a testament to the value of geothermal energy and the unique conditions HS Orka has to offer."
In March, SSF released its annual report for 2024, announcing a "record-breaking" year characterised by strong financial performance, production milestones, and continued investment in sustainability and innovation.
