Direct rDME and Renewable Methanol Synthesis From Industrial CO₂ Emissions

Series Edition | 13 January 2022

A briefing by a European technology provider on the company's new demonstration facility, and plans for scale up of its direct CO₂ and hydrogen to methanol and DME technology.

Following the commissioning this year of the company's 200 TPY demonstration plant, RealCarbonTech has plans for commercial deployment of its simplified, single-step conversion process using captured CO₂ emissions to produce methanol or DME.

DME, rDME + LPG Blending, and LPG's Role in Decarbonizing Transportation

Series Edition | 16 December 2021

A look at the three markets being pursued for rDME, the pathways to defossilization being enabled for the LPG industry, and lifecycle analyses for carbon intensity and vehicle emissions.

Presentations from two senior executives with deep expertise in the LPG industry, currently leading some of the most dynamic developments related to the evaluation and commercialization of rDME, rDME+LPG blends, and their use in applications including transportation.

Oberon Fuels, which began production of the first-ever rDME in the United States this year, shares information about recent developments and ongoing collaboration with the company's commercial partners in a variety of industry areas including LPG. The Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) shares data, modeling, and recent reports of relevance to rDME and rDME+LPG blends for transportation applications, providing an evaluation of differences in CO₂ equivalent emissions for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.

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.