Oberon Fuels Pioneering Practical Sustainability with DME and LPG Blends
Image provided by Oberon Fuels
Since 2021, Oberon Fuels has been utilising a blend of renewable dimethyl ether (DME) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to power the forklift at its Brawley, California production site. This move aligns with Oberon’s focus on sustainability and the efficient use of its renewable fuels in practical, everyday applications.
Renewable DME, produced from waste materials through Oberon’s proprietary process, is a clean-burning alternative fuel that significantly reduces carbon emissions compared to traditional fossil fuels. By blending it with LPG, Oberon Fuels has developed a product that provides an environmental benefit without compromising on performance of the equipment.
One of the standout advantages of using this renewable DME-LPG blend is its compatibility with existing equipment. The forklift at Oberon’s site required no engine modifications to transition to this new fuel, simplifying the adoption process and demonstrating the practical benefits of renewable DME as a drop-in solution for LPG-powered machinery. This capability is particularly important for industries looking to reduce their carbon footprint without incurring significant costs associated with equipment overhauls.
Oberon’s forklift is a 5,000 lb capacity Toyota 8FGU25 with a dual propane and gasoline engine rated for 87 octane or higher fuel. Used daily in plant operations, it has been running on a renewable DME-LPG blend since 2021. Starting at 4% DME, the real-world testing has advanced to a 20% DME blend, which has been used since 2022. The operating performance of the forklift has been unchanged with the fuel blend, and routine teardowns have confirmed the engine has remained in good condition. Engine knock has not been detected, indicating that the octane level of the fuel blend has remained in the required range for the engine.
Oberon also installed an onsite fuel dispenser for the forklift that also pumps the renewable DME-LPG blend directly into vehicles, equipment and fuel containers. Developed with long time propane dispensing equipment supplier Parafour, the equipment is capable of dispensing 100% DME, 100% LPG, or any blend in between. Built on their standard P4-150 unit, the dispenser was modified with seals that are compatible with the higher solubility of DME, and software updates for calibration.
Once blended, the infrastructure for moving, storing and dispensing DME-LPG does not require modifications. Wider industry adoption of DME-LPG blends was aided by the approval in July, 2024 of a 12% by weight blend level by the UN Subcommittee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods. As standards are put in place, the existing global LPG infrastructure can rapidly and cost-effectively deliver the environmental benefits of DME-LPG to the end users.
In addition to the environmental benefits, the use of renewable DME also supports economic sustainability. By utilising waste materials in its production process, Oberon is contributing to the circular economy, reducing waste disposal costs, and fostering job creation in the renewable energy sector.
Moving forward, Oberon Fuels plans to further integrate renewable DME and DME-LPG blends across its operations, while exploring their use in other industrial applications. The successful implementation at the Brawley site serves as a model for how renewable fuels can be seamlessly integrated into existing systems, paving the way for broader adoption across the industry.
Sources: oberonfuels.com
For more on renewable Liquid Gas: https://www.worldliquidgas.org/key-focus-areas/renewable-liquid-gas/
30 September 2024
This article was prepared by Oberon Fuels, WLGA is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. All information in this article is provided "as is", with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy, timeliness or of the results obtained from the use of this information. Furthermore, the views of this article are Oberon Fuels’ and not those of the WLGA.