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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
