Scenario based comparison of alternative fuel production systems for a virtual average German farm

The German agricultural sector consumes approx. 2 billion litres of diesel annually. While sustainable fuels remain underutilised, shifting from diesel to low-emission options is crucial for achieving a climate-neutral agricultural sector as mandated by the German Federal Climate Change Act. This study therefore examines three on-farm renewable fuel production pathways - biogas from manure and rapeseed oil, as well as hydrogen - on an average German farm. The results show that hydrogen offers the most land-efficient solution, requiring less than 1% land use of the other alternatives, whereas rapeseed oil proves the most cost-effective option, with periodical costs 26 % lower than for biomethane and 18 % lower than for hydrogen, respectively. • German farms can produce rape oil, biomethane or hydrogen to meet their fuel demand • Rapeseed oil is the most economical alternative fuel • The German rapeseed production cannot meet the agricultural fuel demand • Biomethane production from German Dairy manure could meet agricultural fuel demand • Hydrogen production is the best option concerning land use efficiency