Oberon Fuels Inc. (Oberon), the first company to announce plans to commercialize biogas-based dimethyl ether (DME) fuel production in North America, announces that the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved its DME for inclusion under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Oberon’s biogas-based DME is now eligible for high value D-Code 3 (cellulosic) and D-Code 5 (advanced) renewable identification numbers (RINs) under the RFS. The EPA 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.
“Less than a year after submitting our pathway petition, this biogas produced fuel was approved.
We are excited to see the EPA continue to support innovative, new fuels and include Oberon’s
DME under the Renewable Fuel Standard,” says Rebecca Boudreaux, Ph.D., President of Oberon
Fuels.
“One of the exciting attributes of DME is that, at its core, DME is a simple fuel,” says
Oberon’s co-founder and COO Elliot Hicks. “It requires a simple diesel engine and has simple
propane-like handling properties.”
The transportation industry, particularly the heavy-duty sector, now has another option under the
RFS for a domestically produced, renewable fuel. “Our customers are engaged in heavy-duty
applications and need the power and torque of a diesel engine,” says Susan Alt, Volvo Group
North America’s Senior Vice President of Public Affairs. “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.”
The EPA’s approval of biogas-based DME is the latest milestone for the growing DME industry.
In February 2014, ASTM International, a globally recognized organization that develops
technical standards, released a specification for DME as a fuel. ASTM D7901 provides guidance
for fuel producers, engine and component suppliers, and infrastructure developers on DME
purity, testing, safety and handling.
