Renewable Propane and DME Are Lighting a Path to Emission Reductions By Michael McAdams July 25, 2024
Americans just celebrated July 4th, marking not only our nation’s independence, but also peak barbecue season. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, Americans devour an estimated seven billion hot dogs. This past 4th of July alone, Americans consumed around 150 million hot dogs. That’s a lot of barbecues. And for many, that also means a lot of propane.
While many Americans rely on propane for our summer barbecues, we get even more use out of it for home and water heating and powering industrial and farming equipment. Across the globe, 3 billion people use propane as an energy source. With widespread use at this scale, it is worth supporting the efforts of those working to make the fuel renewable.
Blending renewable dimethyl ether (DME) into propane is one of the ways the industry is looking at reducing its carbon footprint. One such company leading the charge is Oberon Fuels, who was the first company in the U.S. to produce renewable DME, which when blended with propane can reduce carbon intensity (CI) scores by up to 60%. Oberon also offers 100% renewable DME fuel for certain transportation equipment that’s been modified to use the fuel. They’ve partnered with Suburban Propane and have been fueling vehicles in California with a DME/propane blend since 2022. As with all renewable fuels, renewable DME is made with sustainable sources like waste streams from breaking down trees to make pulp, animal waste, food and agricultural waste, and biomass.
As we grapple with the climate crisis, we cannot ignore any technology that reduces our greenhouse gas emissions. As President and CEO of Oberon Fuels Dr. Rebecca Boudreaux recently reminded me, it would be a mistake to rely solely on electrification efforts that can be decades away. “We like to simplify things like one solution is going to cure all the world,” she
said, “Electrification is only as clean as the grid — which today usually isn’t that green. Renewable DME gives us more options and flexibility now on a molecular level for a variety of applications — giving us greater flexibility to tackle the problem and offer more solutions to address climate change.”
Renewable Propane is another option with growing availability. It is made as a byproduct of renewable diesel production (much like propane is a byproduct of oil and gas refining). They work well together — and a blend of renewable DME and renewable Propane could make your BBQ carbon negative in the near future! The World Liquid Gas Association estimates that by 2050, renewable DME and renewable Propane could meet half the world’s demand for propane.
Yet, as is commonplace in the renewable fuels industry, progress is stifled by inconsistent legislation. “People say chemistry is hard, but then there are regulations,” said Dr. Boudreaux.
Dr. Boudreaux elaborated that due to the upcoming election there is uncertainty around policies like the Inflation Reduction Act. Just as important as the policy itself is consistency. Renewable fuels facilities take years to construct. Investors require reassurance that regulation won’t drastically change by the time they’re completed.
With the right support, renewable DME and renewable Propane have the capacity to fuel the world’s propane needs. It’s not too soon to get excited to pack a cannister of renewable Propane or renewable DME on a camping trip or swap one in for your mower or mini-tractor doing yardwork. And yes, very soon that will include your summer BBQ tank.
“We look forward to selling renewable Propane blended with renewable DME for consumer usage in the years to come,” said Dr. Boudreaux.
