“What really matters when we aim to rely on renewable drives in agriculture in the future?”
Dr. Edgar Remmele
Dr. Edgar Remmele addressed his question to Martin Hanstein, Head of Performance Measurement at DLG TestService GmbH in Groß-Umstadt. ‘In agriculture, several factors matter: First, the machine must start reliably; second, the renewable drive should not cost more than the conventional one. Then there are vehicles that only operate on the farm and don’t need to move heavy loads – for example, the classic yard loader. Others, however, are designed to pull large loads and run for many hours at a stretch, while also coping with dust and moisture. And in the end, the cost-benefit calculation has to add up,’ Hanstein explained.
HVO – A Nice Idea or a Real Alternative?
‘From the industry’s perspective, the first choice would probably be HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil), a diesel-like fuel produced from oilseed crops as well as residual and waste materials. Next in line would most likely be ethanol or biomethane: initial trials with this fuel are already underway with sugarcane growers in South America. Electric tractors are also on the rise – in my view, the least likely option to prevail is the fuel cell,’ answered Marius Hofmann of AGCO Power Oy, responding to Remmele’s question about the vehicle industry’s top choice when it comes to alternative drive systems.
"First of all, it should be said that the topic of HVO is not fundamentally new – what’s new is its role in the discussion about its applicability in agriculture."
Martin Hanstein
The moderator then asked Martin Hanstein whether there were already experiences from Groß-Umstadt regarding the performance of machines running on HVO: ‘First of all, it should be said that the topic of HVO is not fundamentally new – what’s new is its role in the discussion about its applicability in agriculture. We need a solution here, especially for heavy machinery,’ explained the department head. ‘Last year, we tested a tractor at our test center to examine how engine performance and fuel consumption change when using HVO compared to conventional diesel fuel. The results: The change of fuel had no impact on engine performance; we couldn’t detect any difference. We measured consumption using the DLG PowerMix on the roller test bench: the tractor undergoes 14 different test cycles simulating various loads. Consumption with HVO was only minimally, and thus not significantly, higher than in the diesel test.’ Anton Dippold, Managing Director of Bayerische Staatsgüter, then addressed Remmele’s follow-up question: ‘What do you expect from renewable drives, and what experiences have you had with them on your trial farms?
Reliable Performance in Practice Must Be Guaranteed
‘Machines need to be robust, and the available fuel must have a high energy density – especially in the upper performance range. It must also be ensured that the respective machine operates reliably in practical use, that our machines run with low emissions, for long periods at a stretch, and do so efficiently. From my perspective, renewable fuels definitely need to remain in focus, and we must ensure they gain more and more acceptance among practitioners. Regarding the conversion of older machines to alternative drives, it would be important to me in the future that certified retrofit systems are available,’ Dippold explained, outlining the requirements from a research institute’s point of view.
"We need to let go of the idea that there will continue to be one single fuel or drive technology for all types of machines in the future…"
Prof. Roger Stirnimann
Another participant in the discussion was Prof. Roger Stirnimann, lecturer in agricultural engineering at the School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (HAFL) in Zollikofen, Switzerland. In response to Remmele’s question, he explained from a scientific perspective why there have so far been few offerings from industry for alternative drives: ‘We need to let go of the idea that there will continue to be one single fuel or drive technology for all types of machines in the future – simply because we have a wide range of machine types with fundamentally different requirements. There are small machines like yard loaders, large machines like combines or forage harvesters, and many others in between. Ethanol could become interesting for regions such as South America, as it is produced from biomass like corn, grain or sugarcane, while fuel cells, for example, have the disadvantage of not tolerating ammonia exposure,’ the Swiss lecturer outlined the current situation. Hanstein added: ‘We have a colorful bouquet of technologies that work well in the lower to medium power range – but in the upper power range, diesel remains irreplaceable.’ Hofmann and Stirnimann also assessed the extent to which alternative drives are already considered in education – both vocational training and university studies. Both agreed: It is already a topic, but the scope still needs to be expanded.
Alternatives Must Also Gain Acceptance Among Practitioners
Remmele pointed out: ‘Leaks and seepage caused by the use of biodiesel are still firmly anchored in the minds of practitioners. We need a shift in thinking, and we can achieve that by putting alternative drives more strongly on the agenda.’ Dippold reinforced Remmele’s statement, adding: ‘We have a climate change problem, and we need to reduce emissions. For that, the framework conditions for CO₂ pricing must be set so that industry can develop the technology and farmers will demand it. The industry needs a perspective that pays off.’ Stirnimann explained: ‘The fact that crude oil prices – and thus diesel – have been relatively cheap in recent years has stalled developments in renewable energy and fuels. The declared goal is for alternative technologies to eventually become self-sustaining. As long as the prices for alternatively powered vehicles remain as high as they are now, they will not be in demand among practitioners.’ Hoffmann emphasized: ‘Long-term, predictable, and realistic goals that don’t change every three to four years, along with clear guidelines – that’s what the industry needs to develop real alternatives.’
Hanstein added another point: ‘HVO still costs 10 cents more per liter compared to diesel. On top of that, filling stations for it are scarce. My appeal to the audience: If you use HVO yourself, tell your neighbor, mention it at the next club meeting or at the next barn party. It’s not only subsidies that can make a difference here, but also more people talking about it and drawing attention to this type of fuel.’
“If suddenly more and more farmers wanted to switch to HVO, there wouldn’t be enough for everyone.”
Prof. Roger Stirnimann
Fittingly, Stirnimann answered the audience question about HVO production capacity: ‘That’s a real issue. If suddenly more and more farmers wanted to switch to HVO, there wouldn’t be enough for everyone. Palm oil is no longer permitted for HVO or biodiesel production, and on top of that, HVO is 100% imported – so we have no reserves produced in Germany.’ Another audience question about seals that became brittle when using biodiesel was partly put into perspective by Remmele: ‘With new machines, we no longer have problems with this; it’s an issue for existing machines if you were to switch to HVO. In those cases, special attention would need to be paid to the seals.’
Conclusion: Alternative Drives Are a Shared Goal
Finally, each discussion participant was invited to share a wish or an offer with the group. Stirnimann began: ‘My wish is directed at the industry as a whole: I would like to see it experiment more and take more risks. Research would definitely support this and actively collaborate.’
Hanstein continued: ‘My wish from the perspective of the test center: To foresee which technology will truly become relevant, it must also be tested in practice. That’s how we create acceptance among users. In return, we help test the machines and develop them efficiently,’ and Dippold added: ‘We offer practical application – and that needs to happen much more often.’ Hoffmann concluded with: ‘And from a manufacturer’s perspective, we wish for guaranteed purchase volumes – then we can easily meet your expectations.’
