Biomethane as tractor fuel: Opportunities for customer, manufacturer or climate

Farming is today dependent on fossil energy. Agricultural machinery uses mostly fossil diesel as engine fuel. Also heating and electrics of farm facilities are direct energy consumption of food production that is at least partly based on fossil energy. Production of agrochemicals consume large amount of energy which is mostly produced by fossil fuel. Additionally, agrochemicals use many raw materials that have limited natural resources, like phosphorus. In general, the whole food production chain, including machinery, heating and electrics of farm facilities, production of agrochemicals, is at least partly based on fossil energy. Due to increased usage and unit costs, energy has become a major cost of food production. Thereby energy consumption as overall is important to optimize in food production to guarantee its viability but also sustainability. Nowadays the CO₂ emissions of non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) are not controlled by legislation. However, the machines’ fuel efficiency is important marketing factor that drives the development. Reduction potential of CO₂ emission when using combustion engine as main energy source of vehicle is limited to rather modest ratio. Development in different components and vehicle operation can gain some improvement in total efficiency. By switching to the renewable fuel the reduction in CO₂ emissions reduction can be dramatic. This paper considers different aspects of the farm energy consumption and how biogas production can influence to it. Specifically, how tractor operation can benefit of renewable natural gas (RNG - also biomethane) availability. Finally, the experiences of Agco/Valtra on tractors running on RNG are discussed.