New Holland recently won New Economy magazine’s prestigious 2013 Clean Tech Award in the Food & Agriculture Category for its contribution to sustainable development with its Clean Energy Leader solutions. These awards promote the use of renewable fuels, low-emission technologies and sustainable farming techniques, and have led to the concept of the ‘energy independent farm’. This produces its own energy from renewable sources, using it to operate its equipment and supply electricity. The prototype Methane Power tractor, recently unveiled by New Holland, is the latest step towards this goal.
The award also honours New Holland’s approach to innovation and the way it seeks to provide easy-to-use technology that is accessible to all. Examples include New Holland’s Hi e-SCR (high-efficiency selective catalytic reduction), developed to meet Tier 4B emissions standards, and its Precision Land Management solutions, which enable farmers to work more efficiently, increase yield and benefit the environment. The New Economy’s judging panel was made up of business journalists, corporate leaders and academics.
Methane-powered tractor
New Holland’s T6.140 Methane Power tractor has entered service at the La Bellotta Farm outside Turin, Italy (above). It has all the features of a standard tractor and is fitted with a four-cylinder, three-litre FPT engine producing a maximum power of 101kW. The methane, generated from renewable biomass crops in the biogas plant on the farm, is stored in nine tanks on the tractor.
These have a total capacity of 50kg and can deliver approximately half a normal day’s work. An auxiliary 15l fuel tank provides backup. The tanks have been integrated into the overall design and the tractor has the same visibility and operational ground clearance as a standard model. Emissions are 80% lower and cost savings of between 25% and 40% can be achieved over conventional fuels.