Hydrogen applications in the agricultural sector represent a necessary way towards greater sustainability.
Indeed, as the world’s population increases, intensive farming and livestock production are two ever-growing but highly polluting industries.
Moreover, as the effects of climate change worsen, it is necessary to switch to more sustainable production methods.
Therefore, hydrogen can be the key to the transition to green agriculture.
In particular, hydrogen can be obtained from green energy, stored locally and then converted into energy for:
- milking livestock
- be used as fuel for cars
- generate heat.
Meanwhile, the first hydrogen-powered machines, such as tractors and forklifts, are entering the market.
Therefore, to develop a hydrogen supply chain in the agricultural sector, it is important to promote:
- the development of new models of fuel cell tractors
- the production and storage of green hydrogen in agricultural areas.
Let us now see what the situation is in the current market.
Fuel cell tractors in the agricultural sector
Although most agricultural vehicles today work on diesel, some companies are already developing new fuel cell tractor models for the agricultural sector.
For example, News Holland Agriculture has developed a hybrid tractor that uses a mixture of hydrogen and diesel to increase power and reduce emissions.
The engine can run on 100 per cent diesel or a mixture of diesel and hydrogen.
Specifically, this tractor uses a hydrogen tank and fuel cells that generate electricity to power the electric motors, which in turn drive the machine and implements.
The hydrogen tractor generates no polluting emissions, only a small amount of water production.
Green hydrogen production and storage in agricultural areas
The implementation of green hydrogen production and storage solutions in agricultural areas is the real challenge for this sector.
Indeed, hydrogen fuel often relies on fossil fuels to separate hydrogen from other elements.
However, farms and agricultural production areas have the advantage that they are often located in open, sunny areas. Therefore, they are ideal locations for the installation of solar or wind power infrastructure, which are suitable for green hydrogen generation.
To date, there are already several innovative projects investigating on-farm hydrogen production.
For example, farms could produce hydrogen from the nitrogen and carbon compounds in manure.
This would create a circular energy economy. This would simultaneously reduce both pollutant emissions and agricultural costs.
However, there is no standard solution for every farm. In fact, the amount of energy produced, like the type of use, is different for each farm. Some use hydrogen more to create electricity again when it is needed and not available. Conversely, other companies use it mainly as an alternative fuel for machinery and tractors.
At Simplifhy we provide our expertise and solutions to design and build complete, custom-made plants for hydrogen production and storage in the agricultural sector.
Contact us to find out more!
