A Cow Dung Tractor whatever next! Introducing the newest addition to the farming world: the Cow-Dung powered Biomethane Tractor! That’s right, folks, no more dependence on expensive and environmentally harmful non-renewable diesel fuel for farmers who also own digesters. There is a new revolutionary tractor powered entirely by cow dung, which is converted into biogas through anaerobic digestion in a biogas plant!
Now in a light-hearted way, we say…
Replacing the Pungent Smell of Diesel Fuel with a Cow Dung Tractor?
No longer will farmers have to suffer through the pungent smell of diesel fuel on their clothes and skin. With the Cow Dung Tractor, the only aroma you’ll be left with is the subtle scent of fresh manure!
Not only is this tractor kinder to the environment, but it’s also a great way to recycle and utilize waste on the farm.
Great Conversation Starter!
Plus, it’s a great conversation starter at the farmers’ market. Imagine telling your customers that the delicious vegetables they’re buying were grown using a tractor powered by cow poo!
But that’s not all – this tractor also has some unique features like the “moo-tor” which can moo at the cows and make them move faster a built-in manure spreader, and a cow pat detector to help the farmer avoid any unexpected cow dung on the field.
So if you’re tired of being a slave to diesel fuel and want to join the cow-dung revolution, come on down and pick up your very own Cow Dung Tractor today!
Note: The article is written with a humorous tone and so far we have not described an actual product or method for use. Biogas is a serious technology for renewable energy generation and should be treated as such. Well, most of the time!
What this is really all about? Our Source article:
New Cow-poo Tractor Matches Diesel-Power for Efficiency
The first tractor in the world that runs entirely on cow poop (dubbed a “Cow Dung Tractor”) was created by a British business.
The Holland T7 vehicle, which runs on liquid methane gas, is being heralded as a game-changer for a reliable home-produced fuel for UK farms.
The groundbreaking 270-horsepower tractor is driven by biogas (biomethane) recovered from farmyard dung using the anaerobic digestion process and is reported to be competitive with conventional diesel-fueled tractors.
Cow Dung Tractor is Farm Powered by as Few as 100 Cows!
The waste products from a herd of as little as 100 cows can be collected in on-farm biomethane storage tanks. Fugitive methane can be stored, cleaned, compressed, and converted into clean-burning fuel. It is highly sustainable due to the fossil fuel saved and the very low emissions which are much lower than for the present diesel tractors.
The surprising fact is that it is reported that similar performance can be expected from a tractor operating on cow manure as from one running on diesel.
The business in Cornwall has invented what they claim to be the first tractor in the world that runs on nothing but cow manure. The 270-horsepower blue prototype was shown off earlier this month, and it is the first tractor of its kind to run on liquid-methane gas thanks to its innovative fuel tank technology.
Better Than Carbon Neutral
Farmers can achieve energy independence and “better than carbon neutral” status with the help of the tractors fueled by animal waste.
Bennamann, situated in Aerohub Business Park in Newquay, has spent more than a decade studying the feasibility of biomethane production in order to produce the New Holland T7 Methane Power Liquefied Natural Gas tractor.
The tractor, developed alongside New Holland’s parent company CNH Industrial, underwent testing on a farm in Cornwall at the beginning of this year. Bennamann’s on-farm biomethane capture and storage systems gather the methane gas and hold it until it is needed to make the liquefied fuel.
Cornish engineers have also created a Cow Dung Tractor that runs entirely on cow manure.
Cornish firm Bennamann, which has been studying and improving biomethane production for over a decade, created the innovative equipment.
Carbon dioxide emissions were reduced from 2,580 metric tonnes to 500 metric tonnes in just one year during the test run on the farm in Cornwall.
Can Any Farmer Do This?
Yes, any farmer can power his or her own Cow Dung Tractor. Provided that:
a) the farm produces organic waste such as manure from cows kept in barns, collects and stores the waste organic material from its own crops and also may import food waste for additional biogas output.
b) The farm has a biogas plant and it produces biomethane.
Biomethane is a type of renewable natural gas that is produced by upgrading biogas, which is created on-farm through anaerobic digestion. Anaerobic digestion is a process in which microorganisms break down organic material, such as manure, in the absence of oxygen. This process produces a mixture of gases, primarily methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2), which is known as biogas.
Before a farmer can use biomethane to power a tractor, they will need to invest in a biogas plant. These plants are specifically designed to:
- capture and upgrade the biogas produced by anaerobic digestion,
- remove impurities and concentrate the methane content.
This process is known as “upgrading” and it can be done by several different methods such as pressure swing adsorption or membrane separation.
Once a farmer has a biogas plant, they can benefit from a variety of uses for the resulting biomethane. Some of the most significant benefits for a dairy farmer include:
- Energy production: Biomethane can be used as a source of energy for on-farm operations, such as powering tractors and other machinery. This can significantly reduce the farmer’s dependence on fossil fuels and lower their energy costs.
- Fertilizer production: The by-product of anaerobic digestion is a nutrient-rich liquid that can be used as a fertilizer for crops. This can help to reduce the farmer’s reliance on chemical fertilizers and improve the fertility of their land.
- Odour control: Anaerobic digestion helps to break down organic matter and reduce the amount of odorous compounds present in manure. This can improve air quality and reduce the negative impact of farming on the surrounding community.
- Pathogen reduction: Anaerobic digestion can reduce the presence of harmful pathogens in manure, making it safer to handle and reducing the risk of disease transmission.
- Carbon credits: Biomethane can be sold as a renewable energy source, which can help farmers to earn carbon credits. These credits are paid to the methane generator and can then be sold or traded on the open market, providing farmers with an additional source of income.
- Reduced greenhouse gas emissions: Biomethane is a clean burning fuel and the use of biomethane can reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases, which helps to mitigate the effects of climate change, as long as all operatives actively engage in fugitive CH4 emissions avoidance.
While the initial investment in research and development plus the construction of a biogas plant can be significant, the long-term benefits can be substantial for a dairy farmer.
In short, biogas plants can help farmers:
- reduce their energy costs by fuelling up their own Cow Dung Tractor,
- improve air quality,
- reduce greenhouse gas emissions and
- improve the quality of their land, as well as provide an additional source of income.
