Editorial team · Tractors
InfoWeb Marketplace · Editorial team
Published on 28 September 2010 · 3 min read
New Holland announces the first energy-independent pilot farm, featuring the second generation of the NH2™ tractor
InfoWeb Marketplace · Editorial teamPublished on 28 September 2010 · 3 min read
The ?energy-independent farm? projects and the NH² tractor won the Gold Medal at SIMA 2009, after standing out among the best projects of the 2015 Objective for Industry – New Technologies for Made in Italy programme
A new prototype hydrogen tractor NH2 will be operational by the third quarter of 2011 at La Bellotta Farm in Venaria (Turin)
Hydrogen will be generated experimentally using electricity supplied by photovoltaic panels and by steam methane reforming via a new biogas plant
Thanks to its clean energy leadership strategy, New Holland has now earned a reputation in the agricultural machinery sector as the brand most committed and dynamic in protecting the environment and promoting sustainable agriculture.
Since 2006, New Holland has been a pioneer in promoting and using biodiesel. 85% of its machines can currently run on 100% biodiesel.
In addition, New Holland already offers the industry's widest range of machines compliant with the Tier 4A standard, which comprises 20 tractors and 6 combine harvester models.
The brand has also announced the creation, on the outskirts of Turin, of the first ?energy-independent farm? equipped with the new generation of NH2 tractors.
One global project, two awards
The NH2 tractor is powered by zero-emission fuel cells. It is the winner of the Gold Medal in the SIMA 2009 Innovation Awards and the only one in its category in the world. This tractor has generated enormous interest in the farming community and among all players in the sector concerned with sustainable agriculture.
At the same time, New Holland has worked on the concept of the ?energy-independent farm?, based on farms' ability to produce electrical energy from natural sources with low environmental impact. This energy is stored in the form of easily reusable hydrogen, hence the synergy with the design of the NH2 tractor, which fits perfectly into this global project.
The project's high level of innovation (from a technological, energy and environmental standpoint) earned it a place among the best projects featured in the 2015 Objective for Industry – New Technologies for Made in Italy programme, promoted and funded by the Italian Ministry of Economic Development. This prestigious award will enable New Holland and the 13 partners in its consortium, namely Elasis, Envi-Park, ENEA, CNR, Verderone, Tonutti, API-COM, CRF, Ferrari Costruzioni Meccaniche, Roter Italia, Sapio and Zefiro, to receive funding from their supervising Ministry totalling 11 million euros, to be invested in developing the new generation of NH2 tractors.
The first pilot farm equipped with the new NH2 tractor
The practical trial will begin at La Bellotta Farm, located in Venaria, a few kilometres from Turin. By the end of 2011, the farm will introduce the second generation of New Holland NH2 tractors, which will be used to test electric implements such as seeders, transplanters and spreaders.
The hydrogen-powered NH2 tractor uses fuel cell technology to generate the electricity that powers its engine, its on-board auxiliary equipment and even electric tillage implements. Derived from the New Holland T6000 tractor, the model that will be in service at La Bellotta Farm will have three fuel cells with a combined total output of 100 kW.
Different methods of producing the hydrogen that fuels the NH² tractor will be assessed as part of the project, from electricity generated from renewable sources to the innovative process of steam methane reforming.
The first method will use electrolysis with electricity produced by the existing photovoltaic installation. The second method will use methane supplied by the digesters of the 1 MW biogas plant recently commissioned at La Bellotta.
In addition to producing hydrogen and covering the farm's energy needs, the plant will be able to supply enough electricity to the national grid to meet the daily needs of about 10.000 people.
?We chose La Bellotta,? says Riccardo Morselli of New Holland's Product Innovation and Development division, ?because its sustainable energy development programmes are in perfect harmony with the concept of the energy-independent farm and gave us the opportunity to show that a hydrogen tractor is not, as sceptics have claimed, a mere styling exercise, but a reality that will change the face and impact of world agriculture in the future.?
To enable the NH2 tractors to operate, the farm will be equipped with a hydrogen storage tank and a special refuelling station with a compressor.
The farm already has a fleet of New Holland tractors including a T7070 Auto Command, a T6090, a T6070 Elite, a T6020 Elite and a T4050. It is the first farm to have the opportunity to test the new hydrogen-powered NH2 model under real working conditions.
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A new prototype hydrogen tractor NH2 will be operational by the third quarter of 2011 at La Bellotta Farm in Venaria (Turin)
Hydrogen will be generated experimentally using electricity supplied by photovoltaic panels and by steam methane reforming via a new biogas plant
Thanks to its clean energy leadership strategy, New Holland has now earned a reputation in the agricultural machinery sector as the brand most committed and dynamic in protecting the environment and promoting sustainable agriculture.
Since 2006, New Holland has been a pioneer in promoting and using biodiesel. 85% of its machines can currently run on 100% biodiesel.
In addition, New Holland already offers the industry's widest range of machines compliant with the Tier 4A standard, which comprises 20 tractors and 6 combine harvester models.
The brand has also announced the creation, on the outskirts of Turin, of the first ?energy-independent farm? equipped with the new generation of NH2 tractors.
One global project, two awards
The NH2 tractor is powered by zero-emission fuel cells. It is the winner of the Gold Medal in the SIMA 2009 Innovation Awards and the only one in its category in the world. This tractor has generated enormous interest in the farming community and among all players in the sector concerned with sustainable agriculture.
At the same time, New Holland has worked on the concept of the ?energy-independent farm?, based on farms' ability to produce electrical energy from natural sources with low environmental impact. This energy is stored in the form of easily reusable hydrogen, hence the synergy with the design of the NH2 tractor, which fits perfectly into this global project.
The project's high level of innovation (from a technological, energy and environmental standpoint) earned it a place among the best projects featured in the 2015 Objective for Industry – New Technologies for Made in Italy programme, promoted and funded by the Italian Ministry of Economic Development. This prestigious award will enable New Holland and the 13 partners in its consortium, namely Elasis, Envi-Park, ENEA, CNR, Verderone, Tonutti, API-COM, CRF, Ferrari Costruzioni Meccaniche, Roter Italia, Sapio and Zefiro, to receive funding from their supervising Ministry totalling 11 million euros, to be invested in developing the new generation of NH2 tractors.
The first pilot farm equipped with the new NH2 tractor
The practical trial will begin at La Bellotta Farm, located in Venaria, a few kilometres from Turin. By the end of 2011, the farm will introduce the second generation of New Holland NH2 tractors, which will be used to test electric implements such as seeders, transplanters and spreaders.
The hydrogen-powered NH2 tractor uses fuel cell technology to generate the electricity that powers its engine, its on-board auxiliary equipment and even electric tillage implements. Derived from the New Holland T6000 tractor, the model that will be in service at La Bellotta Farm will have three fuel cells with a combined total output of 100 kW.
Different methods of producing the hydrogen that fuels the NH² tractor will be assessed as part of the project, from electricity generated from renewable sources to the innovative process of steam methane reforming.
The first method will use electrolysis with electricity produced by the existing photovoltaic installation. The second method will use methane supplied by the digesters of the 1 MW biogas plant recently commissioned at La Bellotta.
In addition to producing hydrogen and covering the farm's energy needs, the plant will be able to supply enough electricity to the national grid to meet the daily needs of about 10.000 people.
?We chose La Bellotta,? says Riccardo Morselli of New Holland's Product Innovation and Development division, ?because its sustainable energy development programmes are in perfect harmony with the concept of the energy-independent farm and gave us the opportunity to show that a hydrogen tractor is not, as sceptics have claimed, a mere styling exercise, but a reality that will change the face and impact of world agriculture in the future.?
To enable the NH2 tractors to operate, the farm will be equipped with a hydrogen storage tank and a special refuelling station with a compressor.
The farm already has a fleet of New Holland tractors including a T7070 Auto Command, a T6090, a T6070 Elite, a T6020 Elite and a T4050. It is the first farm to have the opportunity to test the new hydrogen-powered NH2 model under real working conditions.
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