The tractor with a capacity of 270 hp is not inferiorIn terms of performance, the standard versions with a diesel engine.
By-products from a herd of just 100 cows can be turned into a fuel called volatile methane, which in turn can be stored in a biomethane store on the farm.
A tractor-mounted cryogenic tank keeps the methane in liquid form at -162°C, giving the vehicle the same power as a diesel but with significant emissions savings.
It was tested during a pilot run on a farm in Cornwall, where carbon emissions dropped from 2,500 metric tons to 500 metric tons in just a year.
“The T7 tractor, powered by liquid methane, isa first in the world, and is another step towards decarbonizing the global agriculture industry and realizing the circular economy,” said Chris Mann, co-founder of Bennamann.
The company is also exploring ways to use the technology more widely and hopes it could one day be used to charge electric vehicles in rural areas.
A partnership of local businesses in Cornwall andIsles of Scilly (LEP) is currently co-funding a study to estimate the magnitude of fugitive methane emissions in Cornwall, where Bennanmann is headquartered.
They will investigate current emissions from facilities such as dairy farms and wastewater treatment plants.
The partnership will also explore the future potential use of biomethane as a fuel for transport and agriculture.
“If we can make our agriculturalenergy independent industry in the face of soaring costs and volatile energy prices, while reducing emissions, we can generate huge economic growth for rural communities, increase food security and move towards zero emissions,” said LEP Chairman Mark Duddridge. “These applications are not limited to agriculture or Cornwall. They are global."
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