German Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir has awarded a subsidy of one million euros to a technical study into the development of electric tractors. That money comes from a fund for making the German countryside and agriculture more sustainable. The subsidy had already been promised in the debates about the phased abolition of cheaper diesel for agricultural vehicles.
“Answers are needed on how farms can be more climate-friendly. This transformation will only succeed if the people who have to implement it are also convinced of it. And of course it must be economically viable,” Federal Minister Özdemir said when presenting the plans.
Tractors with climate-friendly drives reduce greenhouse gas emissions and thus contribute to climate protection. The “TrAkceptance” project aims to investigate the acceptance of agricultural machinery powered by renewable fuels or electric – and how this share can be increased.
The project is led by the Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences (HSWT), the technology and support center of the Competence Center for Renewable Raw Materials (TFZ) and the Federal Association for Bioenergy eV (BBE).
In addition, the BMEL ministry has commissioned a study into the possibilities for more wind turbine and solar farms in Germany. The centre-left coalition wants to get rid of power stations that run on brown coal excavated in Germany as quickly as possible, and does not want a return to electricity from nuclear power stations. Lignite combustion is a major contributor to greenhouse gases, and the excavations 'destroy' the landscape.
The ministry's Advisory Council for Rural Development (SRLE) presented its statement “Transformation of the energy system: opportunities for “Expansion of wind energy and photovoltaic systems for rural areas” on Tuesday and was handed over to Minister Cem Özdemir. In it, the SRLE makes recommendations to strengthen acceptance and participation in income from sustainable energy among municipalities and citizens.
Due to their location requirements, rural areas are of exceptional importance for the necessary expansion of renewable energy sources. Minister Özdemir said: “Answers are needed on how agricultural businesses can be more climate-friendly. This transformation will only succeed if the people who have to implement this innovation are also convinced of it. And of course it must be economically viable.”