DME Briefing Series
A monthly series of briefings providing information, insight and expertise from key industry stakeholders, DME producers, project and technology developers, strategists and experts
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Registration
Participation in the DME Briefings is free of charge, with registration required. You may register for specific editions (see program below) or the entire series. To sign up for the entire series and receive a message with a link enabling participation in every edition, please click here.
Program
COMING UP
9th International DME Conference
20 - 22 October 2021
In the lead up to the DME industry's flagship event the DME Briefing Series will feature three editions setting the stage for the conference, workshop and site visit program taking place just outside of Zurich this October.
The industry's flagship event provides a comprehensive look at developments worldwide connected with DME's production, commercialization and use, with a special emphasis on investments being made now to enable and support renewable DME (rDME) production capacity, infrastructure, regulations and standards.
Supported by FPT Industrial and the Swiss Federal Technology Laboratories (Empa), the event will take place just outside Zurich at the Empa-Akademie, with a program that includes an international conference, LPG-DME blend workshop, DME Fundamentals Course, vehicle display and optional site visit program to facilities involved in FPT Industrial's DME project.
Previous Editions
Briefing content available online to IDA members and Briefing Series registrants
Decentralized, Community-Scale rDME Production from Biomass and Waste
24 June 2021
A briefing by two senior executives behind this month's announcement of a joint venture and multimillion GBP£ investment in a new company, Circular Fuels Ltd., to develop production plants worldwide converting renewable and recycled carbon feedstock to rDME.
The new strategic collaboration by IDA member companies SHV Energy and KEW Technology will leverage KEW's proprietary advanced thermal conversion technology to produce rDME by processing a wide range of waste, bio-based and residue feedstock with high efficiency. The first-of-a-kind facility will be located in the United Kingdom and have
an annual production capacity of 50,000 tons of rDME from municipal
solid waste.
KEW's technology was developed in the UK as part of a project funded by the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI), a public-private partnership between global energy and engineering companies (BP, Caterpillar, EDF, Rolls-Royce and Shell) and the government to accelerate the development of low-carbon technologies. The company's demonstration plant, the UK's first municipal waste gasification facility, is located at the Sustainable Energy Centre just outside Birmingham.
Unwrapping the European Green Deal - The EU's Climate Ambitions and DME
27 May 2021
An overview of the EU policy and regulatory landscape as it relates to DME, and insight into the opportunities and impacts these present to the rDME, methanol and LPG industries, by a senior advisor involved in the IDA's current advocacy and engagement efforts with EU officials.
The
EU's plan to address challenges involving climate change and
environmental degradation include an ambitious transition to low-carbon,
low-emission fuel and energy sources that are practical, sustainable
and resource-efficient, and that establish the EU as a global
standard-setter. Initiatives and legislation including a European Green Deal, Directives for Renewable Energy, Alternative Fuels, Infrastructure, Buildings Performance and Taxation, and new CO2 emission performance standards for cars and vans all present significant opportunities for low-carbon alternative fuels such as rDME.
Renewable Methanol and rDME Production Technology Brief
11 February 2021
A briefing by two contributing authors to the joint report just published by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Methanol Institute, along with an update from Oberon Fuels on its production of the first rDME in the United States
In his role as Chief Technology Officer of Chemrec, Ingvar Landälv led production of the world's first rDME at the company's plant in Piteå, Sweden, fuel used in heavy-duty vehicle applications as part of the BioDME project. Oberon Fuels has recently upgraded its existing DME pilot plant to demonstration scale to enable the first production of rDME in the US, with a target production capacity of 1.6 million gallons per year.
The IRENA/MI publication - Innovation Outlook: Renewable Methanol
- builds upon IRENA's 2013 report on the subject, with a focus on the
production of renewable methanol and rDME via both biogas/biomass
gasification routes as well as from green hydrogen generated from
renewable electricity and CO2 capture/use. The report is being shared
with policy leaders and energy system modelers from 161 IRENA member
states, and to inform high-level policy discussions on low-carbon
options for hard to abate sectors.
DME Production, Supply and Market Perspectives
10 December 2020
Insights on the process technology, production routes, supply and markets - existing and potential - for DME from companies with commercial operations and distribution in major markets for a variety of applications
Process technology and catalyst supplier Haldor Topsoe's recent agreement with Air Products expands the ability of the two industry leaders to develop large-scale methanol and DME projects around the world. Aerosolex is Europe's newest DME producer, supplying customers with DME produced using the company's proprietary synthesis technology.
DME Fueling Infrastructure and Onboard Fuel System Component Standards
3 December 2020
A comprehensive overview of current equipment and specifications for DME fueling, and the status of new standards for onboard fuel system components
Updates
by executives from two of the companies leading the provision of
equipment and standards for DME fueling systems and onboard fuel system
components. The Cavagna Group, an international leader in the
manufacture of LPG and related Autogas equipment, leads the ISO
Workgroup responsible for the issuance of standards for onboard DME fuel
system components and provided an update on the status of the
ISO standardization process. Parafour Innovations has provided DME
dispensing equipment for numerous DME vehicle demonstrations by global
powertrain manufacturers, and has deep expertise in the equipment,
specifications and legislation relevant to DME fuel applications.
DME's Potential for Emission Reduction Over a Wide Range of Heavy-Duty Applications
19 November 2020
Data and insights from a global leader in powertrain design and manufacture on DME performance, emissions and efficiency in
a heavy-duty engine
A first report on results from evaluation underway at FPT (part of CNH Industrial) of DME in a selection of its diesel engine range, and perspectives on DME's potential for on and off road applications. CNH brands were pioneers in the use of natural gas and biomethane for transport, with IVECO being the first manufacturer to offer a full range of natural gas models from light- to heavy-duty vehicles and buses. The group is an international leader in the design, production and sale of agricultural and construction equipment, trucks, commercial vehicles, buses and specialty vehicles, in addition to a broad portfolio of powertrain applications, and has large-scale R&D development activities for alternative fuel engines.
LPG Industry Perspectives on rDME Opportunities
12 November 2020
Insights into the strategic opportunities being explored as global developments related to renewable DME gain pace
Industry insight into opportunities presented by rDME for significant contributions to defossilize vital off-grid energy and applications including transportation, heating, cooking and industrial processes. Recent news including the significant investments in an rDME producer by one of the largest propane companies in North America and the signing into law of a bill enabling the sale and adoption of rDME/propane fuel blends by fleets in one of the world's largest alternative fuel markets both provide excellent examples of the opportunities being defined and the investments being made in two fuels whose many synergies make a compelling business case for numerous applications.
Powertrain Industry Perspectives on the DME Opportunity for Sustainable Mobility
5 November 2020
An
update on projects demonstrating DME's potential to help achieve
current and long-term air-quality and GHG-reduction objectives
Updates on DME-related activities within the Ford Motor Company along with information on the status of projects related to energy transition in the transport sector in Europe. Current data on DME's potential to substantially reduce criteria and well-to-wheel emissions in light- and medium-duty vehicles was presented, along with an update on major initiatives now underway including the C3 Mobility project, and DME DIN and CEN standardization.
rDME as a Pathway to Zero-Emission Mobility and Carbon Neutrality - California Update
22 October 2020
Briefings by the Chief Executive Officers of Oberon Fuels and
Suburban Propane on commercialization of the first renewable DME (rDME)
in the US
An update on three key factors in the introduction of rDME into one of the world's largest alternative fuel markets. First, details on an expansion to Oberon's plant and the rDME demonstration project funded in part by the California Energy Commission; second, the impact of the deal announced last month between Oberon Fuels and NYSE-listed Suburban
Propane; and third, the signing into law last month by the Governor of California of a bill that removes barriers to the sale and adoption of rDME/propane fuel blends by fleets across the state.
Current Advances in Renewable DME & Methanol Synthesis
15 October 2020
Briefings from two major European projects
demonstrating innovative production pathways for renewable methanol and
DME
Data and
insights for industry from the just-completed FLEDGED project into the technical, techno-economic and strategic
potential of new production routes for rDME and green methanol, along with an update on the FReSMe project demonstration
now underway involving CRI, Tata Steel and SSAB, of a process enabling CO2 captured from steel manufacturing for the production of renewable methanol.
