The need for a diesel alternative has never been more evident.
DME Molecule
Oil’s rising cost, price volatility due to political instability, the national security issues resulting from our reliance on foreign oil, and stricter federal emission regulations all support the need for a diesel fuel alternative. While numerous energy options (ethanol, electricity, fuel cells, natural gas, algae-derived fuels, etc.) are being explored, DME (dimethyl ether) is a largely overlooked but promising diesel alternative.
DME is a clean-burning fuel that is non-toxic and sulfur-free.
It has been used for decades as an energy source in China, Japan, Korea, Egypt, and Brazil. DME offers improved performance in diesel engines while meeting strict, new emission standards without expensive particulate traps. Volvo, Nissan, and Shanghai Automotive are currently testing new DME trucks. With over 55 billion gallons of diesel consumed each year in the US, DME needs to be a major part of the national energy conversation.
The Oberon process cost-effectively converts inexpensive, abundant natural gas to DME, a higher-valued transportation fuel.
The modular design can be deployed to remote stranded gas locations that would otherwise be difficult to harvest or to industrial operations where it can utilize waste CO2 streams to increase output. With huge reserves of natural gas, efficient conversion to DME will enable greater energy independence and security for the US. In addition, feedstocks such as shale gas and waste methane from wastewater treatment facilities, landfills, and agricultural operators can be converted to DME and monetized using the Oberon process.