Floating Solar Cuts Diesel Use at Chile’s Huar Norte Salmon Farm

In May 2026 the Huar Norte salmon farm off southern Chile’s coast began operating a hybrid power system that places marine-grade photovoltaic panels on a 50-metre circular floating platform. The system prioritises solar generation, then battery storage, and uses diesel generators only as backup. Project partner AKVA Group Chile reported that the installation reduces diesel consumption by 40 % to 50 % while supplying a comparable share of the farm’s electricity needs.

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The farm, owned by Mowi, traditionally relied on diesel generators to power feeding barges and other on-site equipment. To lower fuel use, noise, and the number of fuel-delivery trips, the company pursued a floating solar solution. The arrangement follows a commercial model in which Alotta supplies, installs, owns, and maintains the solar hardware, while Mowi purchases the electricity produced. Fjord Maritime provides the battery and energy-management technology that balances supply and demand on the platform.

An island off Chile turned to solar panels floating on water for electricity, and the unusual installation shows what happens when renewable energy has to work somewhere ordinary land-based solar simp

• Mowi – operator of the Huar Norte salmon site.

An island off Chile turned to solar panels floating on water for electricity, and the unusual installation shows what happens when renewable energy has to work somewhere ordinary land-based solar simp

• AKVA Group Chile – supplied the floating infrastructure and integrated the hybrid system.

An island off Chile turned to solar panels floating on water for electricity, and the unusual installation shows what happens when renewable energy has to work somewhere ordinary land-based solar simp

• Alotta – delivered and maintains the marine-grade solar panels.

An island off Chile turned to solar panels floating on water for electricity, and the unusual installation shows what happens when renewable energy has to work somewhere ordinary land-based solar simp

• Fjord Maritime – supplied batteries and the control system that manages solar, storage, and diesel backup.

An island off Chile turned to solar panels floating on water for electricity, and the unusual installation shows what happens when renewable energy has to work somewhere ordinary land-based solar simp

• Installed capacity: ? 300 kWp.

The Independent

• Expected annual generation: ? 350,000 kWh.

BBC News

• Diesel fuel reduction: 40 %–50 % versus prior consumption levels.

An island off Chile turned to solar panels floating on water for electricity, and the unusual installation shows what happens when renewable energy has to work somewhere ordinary land-based solar simp

• Platform size: 50 m diameter circular platform supporting the panels and batteries.

The Independent

The reduction in diesel use and the electricity share supplied by solar were disclosed in an operating update released by AKVA Group Chile in May 2026. The same update noted that diesel generators remain available for extended periods of low solar output or high demand, ensuring continuous operation. Both companies highlighted ancillary benefits such as fewer fuel-delivery trips and reduced generator noise, which can improve working conditions for staff on the vessel.

An island off Chile turned to solar panels floating on water for electricity, and the unusual installation shows what happens when renewable energy has to work somewhere ordinary land-based solar simp

A reviewed scientific experiment found that low-frequency noise from generators may cause neurological changes linked to chronic stress in farmed Atlantic salmon. While the hybrid system reduces overall generator runtime, the remaining diesel operation could still expose fish to such acoustic stress, suggesting that the environmental benefit is not absolute.

An island off Chile turned to solar panels floating on water for electricity, and the unusual installation shows what happens when renewable energy has to work somewhere ordinary land-based solar simp

The Huar Norte installation demonstrates that remote marine operations can achieve substantial fossil-fuel reductions without shore-based power connections. By cutting diesel use by up to half, the farm lowers fuel costs, reduces greenhouse-gas emissions, and lessens noise pollution—benefits that could be replicated at other isolated aquaculture sites worldwide. The project also provides a model for integrating renewable energy, storage, and conventional backup in harsh marine environments, showing that solar technology can be adapted to meet the reliability demands of commercial seafood production.

An island off Chile turned to solar panels floating on water for electricity, and the unusual installation shows what happens when renewable energy has to work somewhere ordinary land-based solar simp