The right dose, the right quality, and the right capacity: Keep your aquaculture business flowing with DESMI UV systems

May 2025

How can a DESMI UV system benefit your aquaculture business? Read this article to find the answer – and to learn why one of the world’s leading land-based salmon farmers recently chose a DESMI solution.

“We selected a DESMI UV solution after a thorough evaluation, where it scored highest on our key criteria for a UV system," says Olav Lyngstad, Technical Manager for Biology and Aquaculture at Salmon Evolution. "In addition to meeting our requirements, we appreciate DESMI’s strong product expertise and the transparent collaboration they bring to the table."

The ambitious Norwegian company is aiming to create a new standard of salmon at its hybrid onshore production facilities – safely, profitably, and with minimal environmental impact. Salmon Evolution’s 18,500 square metre plant in Indre Harøy was designed and built by Artec Aqua, a leading Norwegian total supplier of process plants and solutions for land-based fish farming and an important DESMI partner.

Artec Aqua’s knowledge and expertise guarantee high water quality and efficient solutions for their clients, and at the Indre Harøy plant, this was achieved through strong collaboration between DESMI and Artec Aqua’s technical project team.

“The choice of DESMI UV systems for this project is based on DESMI’s professional approach and support during the design phase” says Inge Finnes Saunes, Procurement Manager Process at Artec Aqua.

Reliable and efficient technology
UV technology is a proven, reliable, and efficient method for removing pathogens from water and avoid costly virus and bacteria outbreaks. The technology is chemical-free and therefore safe for fish and employees alike.

To achieve the best results, you need a system that can deliver the exact UV dose required. For long-term reliability, it must also withstand harsh operating conditions and offer the capacity and flexibility to meet your needs – both today and in the future.

On all of these crucial parameters, the AquaShield and AquaDose UV systems from DESMI deliver. They are a great solution for removing pathogens from intake, recirculation, or effluent water. So, what can you expect from a DESMI solution? First and foremost, the dose you need.

“When we design a water treatment solution for an aquaculture customer, we are able to calculate the UV dose very accurately, even at high dose levels,” explains Hans Christian Thisen, Product Manager at DESMI.
“You don’t just get the treatment dose you need; you also get a fairly accurate estimate of the power consumption of your plant, so you keep both the technical director and CFO happy.”

DESMI bases its calculations on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling, reflecting real-life operating conditions such as water quality, flow rate, and UV lamp power. In 2024, the DESMI methodology was validated by DNV, confirming its accuracy even at higher, more effective UV doses. In any water quality and at a broad range of flow rates, you can therefore count on DESMI to strike the optimal balance between treatment performance and financial performance.

Approved marine quality

DESMI’s UV treatment technology was originally developed for ballast water treatment on ships. This maritime heritage still shows in our aquaculture water treatment systems and is the second reason you can benefit from a DESMI solution.
“All AquaShield and AquaDose systems are available in super duplex steel, making them completely resistant to salt water,” says Hans Christian Thisen. “You can get a DESMI solution that will keep running for years in any salinity and temperature.”

The robustness of the DESMI UV technology is underscored by the fact that more than 2,000 ships all over the world rely on DESMI solutions to manage ballast water according to stringent international requirements. And in the event repairs are needed, original DESMI spare parts are available globally and shipped within 24 hours.

Matches your capacity needs

To sum up, DESMI UV systems deliver the exact dose you need and keep running for years, even in harsh operating conditions with high salinity, turbid water, or high temperatures. But there is a third reason they are perfect for any aquaculture facility.
“With DESMI, you get the capacity you need,” says Hans Christian Thisen. “One single AquaDose unit can handle from 35 to 3,500 cubic metres of water an hour. If you need more, you can easily run multiple units in parallel to accommodate higher production requirements. Even so, just one unit covers a large range—and servicing is simpler when you only have a single system to maintain.”

Despite this high capacity, the footprint of DESMI’s UV systems is relatively low. You can order them skid mounted for easy installation or as standalone components. They can be bundled with filtration and cleaning systems, and you can get remote monitoring and alarms through full IoT integration. AquaShield has been approved by the Norwegian Veterinary Institute (NVI), and NVI approval of AquaDose is forthcoming.

Keeping your business flowing

Good fish health is crucial in order to keep production running and get maximum return on your investment. Backed by our know-how and expertise, DESMI UV solutions help protect your valuable seafood assets.

“We have the technology and know-how to deliver effective, reliable water treatment solutions for your application – but more importantly, we have the expertise and the mindset to understand your business and give you what you specifically need,” concludes Hans Christian Thisen. “To us, technology is always a means to an end. Our UV systems, like anything else we make, are there to keep your business flowing.”