dimethyl ether (rDME)
of the off-grid energy sector
About us
Established in February 2022, Dimeta is a joint venture between SHV Energy and UGI International to advance the production and use of renewable and recycled carbon Dimethyl Ether (rDME), a low-carbon sustainable liquid gas, to accelerate the LPG Industry’s transition to Net Zero.
At Dimeta we:
Identify partners and frameworks for developing rDME production plants
Aim to produce 300,000 tonnes of rDME per annum by 2027
Wholesale rDME to the LPG market, as it transitions to Net Zero
Advocate support for rDME and promote adoption
The off-grid energy challenge
Across the world, over 200m tonnes of LPG is used for energy per year, providing portable, clean burning fuels to billions of people living and working off the mains gas grid. For many of these applications, mainstream solutions such as hydrogen or electrification will not be suitable due to geography, practicality or affordability.
There is a clear need for alternative renewable energy solutions in off-grid areas, whether for homes and businesses in rural areas, hard to electrify HGVs or industrial processes.
To address this, the LPG Industry across the globe are transitioning to ‘drop-in’ renewable liquid gases. Dimeta is supporting this transition by producing rDME and accelerating its adoption, which alongside other renewable liquid gases can reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality in an affordable way.
What is rDME?
Renewable and recycled carbon DME (rDME) is a safe, clean-burning, sustainable fuel that can support decarbonisation of the off-grid energy sector including domestic and commercial heating and cooking, industry and transport.
Chemically similar
to propane and butane
Easily transported
as a liquid in pressurised cylinders and tanks
Can be blended with LPG and used in existing applications
Can reduce GHG emissions by up to 85% compared to heating oil
Easily distributed using existing LPG infrastructure at the same pressure
Can be produced today from wide range of sustainable, locally sourced, feedstocks
DME has been used safely in industrial applications for decades
Similar to LPG, substantially reduces pollutants such as NOx, SOx and PM compared to solid and liquid fuels
Production
rDME can be produced from a wide range of sustainable feedstocks including:
Biogenic material such as manure, organic fraction of waste streams, and other biomass
Non-organic fraction of municipal waste such as non-recyclable plastics and tyres
Captured CO2 and other waste gases from the industrial sector such as steel, aluminium, and cement manufacturing
rDME can be produced using a range of technologies including gasification or electrolysis
For a better view of the infographic below please turn your device into landscape mode.
These buildings do not lend themselves to full electrification, solutions such as heat pumps practically challenging or unaffordable for many rural homes. It is for these homes, renewable liquid gases, such as rDME offer a just transition to Net Zero.
There is a clear need for high-grade heat solutions across these sectors, by blending rDME with LPG or bioLPG further accelerates the decarbonisation trajectory for off-grid businesses.
Industries will be able to benefit from a blend of rDME, with LPG or bioLPG, to reduce emissions, but those looking to reduce their carbon footprint quicker, could consider switching to 100% rDME which saves up to 85% carbon emissions when compared to diesel and kerosene.
Looking to the future, rDME can be used to provide a long-term decarbonisation option for the transport sector applications which are hard to electrify, especially heavy-duty and non-road transport.
Dimeta scales up rDME supply:
Dimeta’s first major project, Circular Fuels Ltd (CFL) is a joint venture between Dimeta and KEW technology. CFL is a specialised project development company, which develops construction-ready rDME plants using KEW’s proprietary advanced gasification technology.
The first plant has been announced in the UK, where Dimeta plans to produce 50,000 tonnes per year of rDME. The production facility is located in Teesside, one of the UK’s leading decarbonising industrial clusters, shall be in operation in 2027.
Subsequent plants are already in development in mainland Europe and the USA.
We want to work with you
Dimeta is actively looking for collaborations on:
Latest news
17 Jun 2024
Meet Adriana Zainea: our new Head of Appliance Safety and Standardisation
In our latest blog post, we have the pleasure of introducing you to our new Head of Appliance Safety and Standardisation, Adriana Zainea. Join us as we get to know her better and gain insight into the responsibilities and vision she brings to her new role.
Read more
07 Jun 2024
LPG Day: Exploring the Role of Renewable Liquid Gases in the Current Energy Transition
To highlight the LPG Day, we spoke to Miriam Cavagna, Head of Marketing and Communications at Cavagna Group, about the role LPG can play in the current energy transition.
Read more
06 Jun 2024
First-of-a-kind home in Europe utilising DME/LPG blends for heating
Dimeta is partnering with Delft University of Technology and The Green Village to demonstrate the use of DME/LPG blends in rural settings without modifying existing appliances.
Read more
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