CNH Industrial Takes Stake in Bennamann

CNH Industrial is expanding its alternative fuel capabilities today by acquiring a majority stake in Bennamann, a UK-based expert in capturing, repurposing, and storing fugitive methane emissions for energy use. Bennamann’s infrastructure, in conjunction with CNH Industrial equipment, provides a carbon-negative system that fully supports a circular economy in farming. This move strengthens our leadership position and portfolio in agricultural alternative fuels.

“By acquiring Bennamann, we are providing our customers with a full energy production, storage, and distribution service,” says Derek Neilson, President Agriculture at CNH Industrial. “This solution can transform farms into mini energy hubs that can satisfy their own energy needs, produce their own natural fertilizer and sell any excess gas on the open market. It also allows them to produce their own electricity. As a result, we are a true alternative energy enabler, capable of serving a wide range of applications and contributing to a carbon-negative future.”

One of agriculture’s most pressing environmental issues is reducing methane and CO2 emissions from biowaste and operations. CNH Industrial has been pioneering sustainable alternative power solutions in agriculture for over two decades to assist farmers in meeting this challenge.

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In 2019, we collaborated with Bennamann to develop a liquefied natural gas fuel tank for our tractor prototype. Our Ventures investment arm acquired a minority stake in the company in 2021. On a UK pilot farm, our shared technologies capture fugitive emissions from farm biowaste, specifically livestock manure slurry, which is then purified into biomethane, which is then compressed or liquefied. Both can be used as vehicle fuel, to generate electricity, and even to power homes or farms, and the byproducts of the conversion process can be used as natural fertilizer. Overall, the system provides the farm with energy independence, lowers input costs, and has the potential to generate additional revenue streams. This work has also resulted in the

This latest strategic investment strengthens our commitment to the Science Based Targets initiative by lowering agricultural CO2 emissions. According to our research, a 120-cow farm using our shared methane capture technology can decrease the carbon dioxide equivalent of 100 Western European households – approximately 780 tons per year.

We have moved past the prototype stage and will be installing the CNH Industrial-Bennamann solution on multiple farms over the next year. This will begin with compressed fugitive methane solutions and progress to liquefied solutions in the future.

Liquefied methane (a natural gas) is much easier to store and distribute than renewable energy sources like hydrogen and compressed natural gas due to its high energy density. As a result, liquefied methane is a direct and suitable replacement for fossil fuels in high-power applications, even in remote locations like construction sites.

CNH Industrial continues to Break New Ground in energy independence to keep our customers competitive while facilitating climate-friendly farming practices through our strategic and sustainable solutions.