Methane-powered tractor pops up in UK

A tractor that runs on bio-methane has arrived in the UK and was recently tested on two separate farms.

According to New Holland, which developed the machine, the prototype T6.180 methane-powered model has the potential to reduce polluting emissions by 80 per cent and achieve fuel cost savings of 25 to 40 per cent.

The machine was developed as a 100 per cent sustainable solution to increasing fuel costs. On-farm biogas plants are becoming more common in Britain, meaning methane-powered tractors like New Holland's prototype are becoming increasingly viable.

Wyke Farms, one of the UK's biggest cheddar producers, and Worthy Farm, also home to the world-renowned Glastonbury Festival, tested the tractor in late June and are excited about the possibilities a methane-powered tractor presents.

The tractor draws on commercial vehicle technology already used by New Holland’s sister brand, Iveco.

By adapting existing engine technology – fitting a small three-way catalytic converter housed within a standard tractor chassis and cab – the company has ensured the methane tractor looks and drives just like a diesel-powered tractor while exceeding the current Tier 4B emissions legislation.

Wyke Farms in Bruton, Somerset, has been producing cheddar cheese and other dairy products for over 150 years and is passionate about its '100% Green' initiative, which has earned it a handful of awards.

While some farmers dream of being energy independent, Wyke Farms has achieved it.

The farm's biogas plant plays a big part in meeting its sustainability objectives, with three large anaerobic digesters producing electricity for the farm and factory. The resulting gas is cleaned up and used to power the farm's boilers, with excess sold back to the grid to serve the local community.

The digesters are fed entirely from waste, including slurry from the farm's 1000 dairy cows, local cider apple waste, and other waste not fit for human or animal consumption.

The farm runs three electric cars and in the future could run its tankers on compressed natural gas (CNG) produced by the biogas plant. Having a compression plant on-site would also give Wyke Farms the opportunity to invest in tractors powered by methane – giving them complete energy independence.

At Wyke Farms, New Holland's prototype methane tractor was put through its paces with a slurry tanker, transporting material to and from the farm's anaerobic digester plant.

Wyke Farms' Director Roger Clothier, who tested the prototype tractor, says the farm needs fuel efficient vehicles with a good power-to-weight ratio to pull heavy tanks around the farm.

"My first impression is that this looks and feels just like a normal tractor," he says.

"With a combined gross weight of 27 tonnes, the tractor and fully loaded tanker was a little slow to get off the line, but once moving the tractor came alive.

"Engine braking downhill was good and there was plenty of power in the mid-range and top-end with no torque issues when going uphill – it drove just like a diesel."

The T6.180 Methane Power prototype offers 179hp maximum power. According to Clothier, this means it would cope with the duties required at Wyke Farms, but he felt an additional 20hp would be preferable – particularly when under heavy load.

New Holland has managed to squeeze 300L (52kg) of compressed methane into nine tanks around the tractor; enough for around six hours of work depending on activity and load.

Wyke Farms achieved around four-and-a-half to five hours for tanker transport work during testing.

Clothier says while a comparable diesel tractor would work for longer on one tank of fuel, refilling the methane tractor wasn't too much of an issue. Refilling is done through a single inlet on the tractor.

Increasing the running time requires more gas cylinder storage, but New Holland says that is difficult to achieve with current cylinder shape and technology. The company is looking at potentially adding tanks to the front ballast and on towed implements.

Wyke Farms uses around 12,000 litres of red diesel a month at a cost of £4000 (approximately AUD$7000). Running costs for the T6.180 Methane Power tractor were difficult to judge on this particular test, but New Holland estimates that fuel cost savings of 25 to 40 per cent could be achieved. In addition, no Ad Blue is required.

In the cab, the control layout is the same as a diesel-powered T6, with a methane tank monitor to the driver's right. While front visibility was fair, the large rear pillars containing gas tanks can restrict visibility.

For the tractor drivers at Wyke Farms this was a slight issue as they need good visibility left and right when reversing tankers.

However, where operations like Wyke Farms are renewable-energy focussed, Clothier can see a methane-powered tractor fit right in.

"Not only does the methane tractor have the potential to reduce polluting emissions by 80 per cent and cut our fuel costs by a significant amount, it could contribute to our commitment to lowering our carbon footprint – a key element of our '100% Green' Initiative at Wyke Farms – which is highly valued by our customers."

While New Holland and Wyke Farms sees the potential for such machinery working on farm, some investment needs to go in to a compressing plant to make the gas suitable for use in engines, either direct from the biogas plant or drawn back from the grid.

Testing of the T6.180 Methane Power tractor continues as the prototype tours other European markets.

It will then return to its home in Italy at La Bellotta, New Holland's 'Energy Independent Farm', where the company has been working towards its Clean Energy Leader strategy for the past 10 years.