The fish farm, Ferme piscicole des Bobines, located in East Hereford in Estrie, near the border with the United States, is the largest fish farm in Quebec and produce trout for consumption.  As the demand for its high-quality fish continues to increase, the fish farm constantly invests in the modernization of its infrastructure and stands out for its innovative attitude and the great attention it pays to sustainable development.

The company also uses modern filtration technology which allows it to reduce its supply of fresh water to 10% of the water circulated in its basins as well as a second technology which allows it to reject extremely clean water while producing fertilizer for surrounding land.

This year, the Fish Farm of the Ferme piscicole des Bobines is growing again by constructing a brand new building for the nursery – the first stage in the growth of fish. In this new state-of-the-art building, the water temperature must be kept at precise temperatures during the various stages of fry development.  For this reason, Clément and Normand Roy, owners and main designers of the new installation, called on Rackam”s team to design an efficient and energy-efficient water temperature control system.

How to regulate water temperature in aquaculture?

Fish farming, or aquaculture, has distinct challenges in maintaining optimal conditions for the growth of their fish. In this case, trout are naturally suited to thrive in cold water, but can become less active and exhibit lower feed intake and metabolic rates as water temperatures decrease. By better controlling their environment we can ensure their health but also significantly cut down the heating costs of the fish farm.

Here, as the new water supplied to the installation is drawn from the ground, it is relatively cold and can vary from 4 degrees Celsius to 13 degrees Celsius.

To obtain the optimum temperature for fish growth, Rackam has chosen to combine 3 technologies:

• heat recovery, via two plate heat exchangers,

• the production of low-temperature solar energy using a 72 m2 flat panel installation,

• heating using a combination of heat pumps.

The start of the project in summer 2021, will allow the Fish Farm to reduce its electricity consumption by 90% compared to an equivalent electric kettle. The remote East Hereford facility will add its renewable energy production and power Rackam’s renewable energy meter in summer and winter. It will also be possible to consult the energy production of the installation directly on the Rackam site since Clément and Normand agree to participate in Rackam’s major project: to demonstrate the performance, utility, and relevance of solar thermal energy in the fight against climate change!