Oberon’s DME wins EPA fuel pathway OK

In California, Oberon Fuels said that the EPA has approved its DME for inclusion under the Renewable Fuel Standard.

Oberon’s biogas-based DME is now eligible for cellulosic and advanced renewable identification numbers, or RINs, after the agency determined that biogas-based DME produced from the Oberon process resulted in an approximate 68% reduction in greenhouse gases when compared to baseline diesel fuel.

Oberon is the first company to announce plans to commercialize biogas-based dimethyl ether fuel production in North America. “One of the exciting attributes of DME is that, at its core, DME is a simple fuel,” according to Oberon’s co-founder and COO Elliot Hicks. “It requires a simple diesel engine and has simple propane-like handling properties.”

“Oberon’s DME offers that power without the need for the cryogenics or high compression associated with other diesel alternatives. We look forward to continuing our work with Oberon to demonstrate the benefits of this clean-burning, non-toxic diesel alternative for the heavy truck industry,” said Susan Alt, Volvo Group North America’s senior vice president of public affairs.” The agency ruling helps clear the way for DME fuel to reach the market, and follows the release of the ASTM D7901 technical spec in February  with guidance for fuel producers, engine and component suppliers, and infrastructure developers on DME purity, testing, safety, and handling.

“Less than a year after submitting our pathway petition, this biogas produced fuel was approved. We are excited to see it.” said Oberon president Rebecca Boudreaux. “The approval of a new dimethyl ether pathway will bring more gallons under the RFS, but too many cutting edge technologies are still trapped in limbo, stuck in an EPA approval process that simply takes too long,” said Michael McAdams, ABFA President. “EPA must move quickly to determine the fate of these pending pathways. By delaying, EPA puts innovators on the sideline and removes potential sustainable gallons from being counted towards the Renewable Volume Obligation targets.”