Farming in Fermanagh: Methane-powered tractor could become the norm

That was certainly the case this year as tractor and machinery manufacturers continue to develop.

The first New Holland methane powered tractor was in Northern Ireland during Show week. The NH T6.180 was on the Burkes stand where it was heavily visited.

New Holland The Biomethane Tractor at Balmoral Show 2022.

Wilbert Murdock, from Burkes of Cornascriebe, Portadown, explained that methane powered tractors are 37 per cent more efficient and cleaner and yet have the same horsepower as combustion engines. They also have 80 per cent less emissions.

The tractors can run on fuel sources from digestate, biomethane or renewable energy such as that which is produced by Granville Ecopark near Dungannon who were also present on the stand to explain the concept.

There are quite a few anaerobic digestion plants now operating and many of these who refine their methane could see more machines able to operate on this relatively new fuel source.

New Holland Biomethane gas tractor the first in Northern Ireland at Balmoral Show 2022.

Paula McGurk from Granville Ecopark, says they produce the fuel from food waste, taken in from various factories and also from Fermanagh and Omagh District Council. A number of their own vehicles are running on the biomethane.

Granville Ecopark takes in up to 90,00 tonnes of biowaste including packaged food, bottled drinks, catering waste and other processed food products. Biogas is produced at the Ecopark produce renewable electricity and also separated into biomethane and carbon dioxide streams for reuse by industry. The resulting material from the AD process is a bio-fertiliser rich in nutrients.

The Biomethane tanks on The New Holland Tractor at Balmoral Show 2022.

In the future, this circular system could see large farms producing their own biomethane from AD plants and in turn powering tractors and machines working on the farms, making them becoming less dependent on the volatile oil prices.