Launching in North America: Beyond Technological Innovations Rebecca Boudreaux, Ph.D. President,...

Launching in North America:

Beyond Technological Innovations

Rebecca Boudreaux, Ph.D. President, Oberon Fuels, ABLC 2014

•NO carbon-carbon = NO soot/particulate matter

•Combusts in a diesel engine

•Not tied to the price of crude oil

•Multiple feed stocks (biogas, natural gas)

•Handles like propane

Clean-burning Fuel

Dimethyl ether (DME)

Development

Indonesia800 ktpy planned

China11 mtpy capacity30 – 50% in operation

India265 ktpy planned

Sweden1st BioDME plant(2011)

Uzbekistan100 ktpy planned

VietnamProject announced

United States12,000 liter/day modular plant producing (2013)

Papua New Guinea200 ktpy planned (2016)

Japan80 ktpy operational

Trinidad & Tobago

100 KTA plant planned

Mitsubishi Corp. & Mitsubishi Gas

Chemical

Courtesy of the International DME Association

Engine Developments

Gaining Traction

Oberon, Safeway, Volvo

DME – How do you make it?

Made from methane and CO2

– Multiple feedstocks, can be mixed

– Pipeline natural gas, stranded gas, biogas

– Wasted or stranded resources

Dimethyl ether (DME)

Wasted Resources

Flared Gas

Food Waste

Landfill Gas

Oberon Process

Cost-effectively converts methane and CO2 to DME

Phase 1: Pilot Plant

• Pilot Plant Online

• Converts methanol to DME

(last process step)

• 1st Fuel-grade DME in

North America

• Location: Brawley,

California

Innovation

goes beyond just the

technology

Innovation

• Regulations

ASTM

• Dimethyl Ether for Fuel Purposes

• ASTM D7901-14

• Task force included various industry stakeholders

Innovation

• Regulations• Infrastructure

Fueling Infrastructure

Innovation

• Regulations• Infrastructure• Coalition

Industry Groups

Stakeholders

OEMs

Customers

Infrastructure

Summary

No C-C bond = No soot

Made fromMethane + CO2

Excellent DieselReplacement

Status

ASTM Standard Published Jan. 2014ASTM D7901-14DME as transportation fuel

EPA RFS Pathway under review

Fuel-grade DME•Produced in southern CA•1st known commercial DME catalytic distillation column

DME-powered TrucksDemonstrations running in US

InnovationBeyond the technology

• Regulations• Infrastructure• Coalition

www.oberonfuels.com

Rebecca Boudreaux, Ph.D.Presidentrebecca@oberonfuels.com(858) 754-3200