Italian technology company NextChem and its subsidiary MyRechemical have signed an agreement with Dutch joint venture Dimeta to explore opportunities to produce low-carbon renewable and recycled carbon dimethyl ether (DME) from waste for use in LPG.
DME is similar to propane and can be blended with LPG without requiring changes to appliances or infrastructure, offering a low-carbon solution to LPG’s use in energy and transportation.
Dimeta plans to produce 300,000 tonnes of DME by 2027 through plants in the US, UK and Europe.
The companies will work together to produce DME from municipal solid waste and explore other opportunities, including biogas and biomethane.
Renewable and recycled carbon DME can be produced from biogenic and non-biogenic feedstocks, such as biogas, cellulosic material and municipal waste.
Its applications include blending up to 20% with renewable propane in off-grid heating, cooking and industrial applications, using as a 100% renewable fuel in high temperature heating that is hard to electrify, and as a replacement for diesel in engines with only a retrofit required. DME can also be blended up to 20% into propane for use in existing propane-fuelled vehicles.
Giacomo Rispoli, Managing Director of MyRechemical: “We are excited to explore with Dimeta further applications of our Waste to Chemicals technologies also to the strategic LPG sector. Renewable and recycled carbon DME from waste enables the transition to sustainable, low-carbon, low-emission energy by itself or blended with LPG, meeting the needs of the circular economy to decarbonize many industries and sectors, including transportation.”
Frankie Ugboma, Chief Executive Officer of Dimeta: “The signing of the agreement between ourselves, NextChem and MyRechemical is an important milestone for Dimeta, building upon the announcement of our first renewable and recycled carbon DME plant in the UK. Both NextChem and MyRechemical are established experts in their field, and I look forward to seeing how we can deliver solutions for the energy transition together.”