Biogas is no longer a buzzword—it’s breaking new ground in the fields. With New Holland’s powerful T7 Methane Power tractor, farmers like Christophe Rousseau in France are proving that clean energy can still pack a punch when it comes to heavy farm work.
A seasoned farmer and biogas innovator, Rousseau recently trialled the prototype of the T7 Methane Power, and the results were impressive: “During the silage season it worked eight hours from nine to five without refuelling,” he noted. The production model will boast 30% more fuel capacity, giving it even more stamina in the field.
The T7 builds on the success of New Holland’s earlier T6.180 Methane Power, but steps things up with 657 litres of onboard gas storage enough to match the diesel-powered T7.270 in performance, but without the emissions. Its autonomy and output are game-changers, especially for large-scale operations.
Yet it’s not just about machinery it’s about infrastructure. In the UK, CNH Industrial (New Holland’s parent company) has backed Bennamann, a renewable agri-tech startup, to bring on-farm biogas refuelling stations to life. In France, Rousseau’s own farm in Burgundy is already running a 500kWh biogas and cogeneration plant, powered by manure and organic waste, while a second commercial biogas plant in nearby Avallon supplies gas to the local network and potentially his own fleet.
The rise of methane-powered farming depends on smart policy, scale, and farmer-led innovation. The European Biogas Association reported nearly 1,700 biogas plants in Europe by March 2025, with France leading the charge. Subsidies and support mechanisms are critical to making CNG and biogas economically viable for farmers.
Rousseau is clear-eyed: the T7 Methane Power performs just like its diesel sibling. With the right backing, he believes biogas could power the future of European farming cleaner, cheaper, and just as capable.
Sustainable farming isn’t just about practices it's about partnerships. The methane revolution is here, and it starts in the tractor cab.
T7 methane power compare to diesel tractors
The methane revolution is here, and it starts in the tractor cab.(Image credit: New Holland)
