Renewable energy sources such as green hydrogen are vital to ensuring the agricultural sector contributes to Scotland’s move to net zero.
Some farmers are using hydrogen electrolysis, which utilises solar power to make hydrogen gas from water, in a bid to help cut emissions and run heavy farming equipment for hours.
It comes as farmers face the prospect of meeting climate targets whilst also balancing the economic viability of their business.
David Smith, an Aberdeenshire farmer believes that hydrogen electrolysis could be the answer.
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For the past eight years, he has used a hydrogen electrolyser to increase the efficiency of his tractor and other farm vehicles.
“This has the effect of reducing the emissions in the exhaust by 80%, as well as giving us between 15 to 20% more miles to the gallon.” He said.
“If we use batteries, you’re looking at four to six tonnes worth for a tractor, and you’d have to recharge it part way through the day. They use a huge amount of power.”
As the number of onshore wind farms increase, farmers who have them on their land say they also could be used to harness another green technology, hydrogen.
NFUS vice president, Andrew Connon said: “You can use the renewables to produce hydrogen and if you have green hydrogen, you have a fuel source and its by-product, ammonia nitrate, which can be used as a fertiliser creating a circular economy for agriculture.
“Financial support and grant funding is needed though to allow this to be looked at on a bigger scale.”
The Scottish Government says they are investing in hydrogen project pilots specific to farming and hops lessons from them can be implemented in the future.
A spokesperson said: “Hydrogen will be a key part of the net zero journeys, and the Scottish Government published an action in 2022 with funding to develop projects to help our decarbonisation.
“We will take what we learn from these projects to roll out the opportunities more widely to benefit more farms and communities.”
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