AGCO, a global company specializing in the design, manufacturing, and distribution of agricultural machinery and precision agriculture technology, has opened its first clean energy laboratory. The new facility is part of a 70-million-euro investment in the Linnavuori plant in Nokia, Finland.
The laboratory will focus on developing and testing innovative battery and powertrain solutions for farm machinery. A team of scientists and engineers at the Linnavuori plant is working on next-generation engines powered by low- or zero-carbon electricity 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 roads, the use of alternative power for off-road and farm machinery has been slower to take off. The capacity of existing battery technologies limits the size of fully electric farm machinery, but AGCO’s clean energy laboratory is working to overcome this challenge.
In addition to reducing emissions from its own operations, AGCO has set ambitious targets to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. The company aims to cut its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 55% by 2033 and 90% by 2050.
AGCO’s sustainability strategy includes developing zero- and low-emission machines, engaging with suppliers to reduce their emissions, supporting farmers in transitioning to sustainable solutions, and collaborating with industry associations on renewable and low-carbon fuels for agricultural machinery.
The Linnavuori plant has undergone significant renovations, including new production facilities for cylinder heads and continuously variable transmission components, expanded paint shops and testing facilities for remanufactured engines, and a training and visitor center. The new buildings cover an area of approximately 11,000 square meters, with some phases already open and others set to come online in 2025.
