AGCO opens clean energy lab to develop sustainable farm machinery

AGCO, a global company specializing in the design, manufacture and distribution of agricultural machinery and precision farming technologies, has opened its first clean energy laboratory. The new facility is part of a €70 million investment in Nokia’s Linnavuori plant in Finland.

The laboratory will focus on developing and testing innovative battery and drive system solutions for agricultural machinery. The team of scientists and engineers at the Linnavuori facility is working on next-generation engines powered by electricity with low or zero carbon dioxide emissions and alternative fuels such as hydrogen and methanol. These technologies aim to minimize emissions from agricultural machinery.

While there has been significant growth in the adoption of hybrid and electric vehicles on the road, the use of alternative power in off-highway and farm equipment has been slower to develop. The capacity of existing battery technologies limits the size of all-electric farm equipment, but AGCO’s Clean Energy Lab is working to overcome that challenge.

In addition to reducing emissions from its own operations, AGCO has set ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets. The company aims to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 55% by 2033 and by 90% by 2050.

AGCO’s sustainability strategy includes developing zero- and low-emission machines, working with suppliers to reduce emissions, supporting farmers in the transition to sustainable solutions and working with industry associations on renewable and low-emission fuels for farm machinery.

The Linnavuori plant has undergone significant renovations, including new production facilities for cylinder heads and CVT components, expanded paint shops and test facilities for remanufactured engines, and a training and visitor centre. The new buildings cover an area of ​​approximately 11,000 square metres, with some phases already open and others due to start in 2025.