FPT Industrial’s biomethane engines used to produce zero-emissions wine

FPT Industrial has helped an Italian winery to produce the world’s first zero-emissions wine, using biomethane.

The company helped Fontanafredda, a winery founded by the first King of Italy in 1858, by supplying two New Holland TK Methane Power crawler vineyard tractors with biomethane-fuelled FPT Industrial F28 natural gas engines.

The tractors will work in the Vigna La Rosa cru that produces grapes for the ‘legendary’ Barolo of the same name, a wine that has been included in the Wine Spectator Top 100 of the world’s best wines.

Recently awarded the title of ‘Engine of the Year 2020’ for its modular, multi-propulsion approach, the FPT Industrial F28 engine is designed to be compact, efficient, and environmentally-friendly.

The biomethane model designed for Fontanafredda was developed on the basis of a New Holland Agriculture crawler vineyard tractor. It ensures complete safety and the equivalent performance of a diesel engine and can work on the steepest slopes and slippery terrain of the Italian vineyards.

Annalisa Stupenengo, CEO of FPT Industrial, said: “After being the ‘heart’ of the vehicles named Sustainable Tractor of the Year and Sustainable Truck of the Year, getting to grips with the needs of the prestigious, delicate, and sustainable, top-quality wine-growing sector is a very exciting challenge for us.

“The partnership with Fontanafredda will enable us to again demonstrate our full support for the EU as it guides the green transition.

“Our biomethane engines are as efficient and high-performing as diesel, and this renewable, sustainable fuel is the real, immediately available alternative for eliminating emissions from agricultural vehicles.”

“We have the great good fortune to live in a unique part of the world, and we have to care for our wonderful land,” said Fontanafredda grower Andrea Farinetti.

“We need a new Renaissance; otherwise, a tomorrow that is like today is unthinkable. Obviously, we have to change and renew ourselves. For us, this renewal means making our land central to everything we do; this must be our overriding aim and must lead to the creation of a great worldwide community, based on trust in others.

“This community will have many tools at its disposal for safeguarding our planet: ours will be wine, ‘green’ wine. Our partnership with FPT Industrial proves that together we can do more, and do it better.”