FROM COW MUCK TO FARM TRUCK: Free fuel for the future

In some cultures, cow dung has been a valuable commodity for many years. Used as an alternative for firewood, wall plaster and sometimes even medicine, this free resource is now being converted into clean energy fuel for diesel-thirsty tractors in the farming industry.

Energy independence is the future of farming in order to cut back on the damage this much-needed industry contributes. Supply and demand have become a double edge sword, producing vital resources for food security and survival but negatively impacting the environment in the process. It’s a cycle that doesn’t make sense.

Over the last 15 years, the idea of converting cow dung into a usable methane substitute for cleaner energy has developed. The natural organic waste manure of cows contains 65% methane. When collected, cleaned and processed to form a methane liquid, the result is an alternative fuel power that produces lower CO2 emissions and reduces carbon footprints.

The new kid on the block is the liquid methane-powered tractor, fueled purely by converted liquid methane produced from cow dung. The engine is virtually the same as the diesel, with just a few modifications to allow for a cleaner gas performance instead. In its infancy still, the purchase price is a little higher than the diesel tractor, but what you save on the running costs soon makes up for the slight price increase.

Overall, the comparisons between diesel-guzzling and methane-powered tractors so far are good, with UK farmers hailing the methane gas tractor as a ‘no-brainer’ for improving sustainability and taking another step forward towards carbon-neutral farming. Performance not only matches the diesel, equaling 270 HP, but with escalating fuel costs, the gas tractor is far cheaper to run, it’s the difference, on average, between 20,000 per year and 2800 per year in fuel bills.
​
Whether you invest in conversion units to produce your own liquid methane or buy it in, you are guaranteed in the long run to contribute to scaling down your carbon footprint, significantly reduce the negative impact on an already fragile environment and overcome the challenges faced by increasing productivity and profitability with less cost for next-generation farming by fuelling the future with cow dung.

Want to know more? Please click on the links below:
​
https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/british-company-develops-first-tractor-in-the-world-to-be-completely-powered-by-cow-dung
https://youtu.be/jhpCAt6pqIU
https://www.farminglife.com/country-and-farming/watch-worlds-first-ever-methane-powered-tractor-makes-northern-ireland-debut-3690368