Unlocking the Potential of Renewable and Recycled Carbon Fuels: The Butterfly and Powered Projects
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Dimeta, a joint venture between SHV Energy and UGI International focused on the production and adoption of renewable & recycled carbon DME, is part of two powerhouse consortiums BUTTERFLY and POWERED, led by the independent organisation for Applied Scientific Research TNO. Both projects aim to revolutionise the energy landscape by advancing the production of renewable and recycled carbon fuels.
The BUTTERFLY Project
The BUTTERFLY project, led by TNO and funded by the European Commission's Horizon programme, brings together a powerful consortium of eleven partners from seven different EU countries, including Dimeta, TNO, ENGIE, Politecnico di Milano, LUT University, CA.RE.FOR Engineering, CELSA GROUP, TORWASH, ETA Florence Renewable Energies, RWTH Aachen University, and BARNA Steel.
The project aims to pioneer an innovative co-production process using cutting-edge technologies harnessing the potential of sustainable biogenic and non-biogenic feedstocks to produce DME and Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG).
By integrating ENGIE's state-of-the-art gasification plant (GAYA) with TNO's proprietary DME production plant (SEDMES), the project targets the off-grid energy supply, the steel industry and the heavy transportation sector.
BUTTERFLY's ambitions extend beyond innovation by demonstrating co-production from indirect gasification in an industrial environment and preparing the SEDMES unit downstream at GAYA's site in France. In addition, BUTTERFLY will intend to de-risk large-scale demonstration through lab-scale R&D modelling and implement a Digital Twin of the conversion process controlled by AI.
The POWERED Project
Led by TNO and funded by RVO, part of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate, the POWERED project (MOOI22) consists of a diverse consortium of nine partners, including Dimeta, Technip, Shell ETCA, VDL, Tata Steel, Aramco Europe, Nouryon, Technolution and Phase to Phase, showing the collective commitment to accelerating the adoption of renewable fuels across various sectors.
The project aims to further the development of TNO's SEDMES technology, which produces renewable & recycled carbon DME in a single step. By removing water in situ, the sorption-enhanced reactor enhances the conversion process, making it up to 15 times more efficient.
This project marks a significant step towards mitigating the environmental impact of traditional energy sources. The potential applications of DME produced vary, from transportation fuels to serving as fuel for domestic and industrial heating in the off-grid energy sector and even contributing to the chemicals sector; the versatility of DME opens doors to many opportunities for sustainable growth and development.
As both projects progress in the coming four years, they exemplify the power of collaboration, innovation, and shared vision in driving meaningful change. The consortiums pave the way for a more sustainable future by pushing the boundaries of renewable fuel production.
Dimeta: A Key Partner
Dimeta leads a work package within the Butterfly project, with a focus on assessing market identification and technology exploitation. This involves identifying value chains and applications, conducting market assessments, and developing business plans for the two main project products: DME and SNG. Dimeta also contributes to various other tasks and work packages, including defining technical specifications for DME storage and quality requirements for DME.
Dimeta is leading some of the key activities of the POWERED project, particularly in defining a robust and safe solution for the storage of DME. The company is also responsible for leading a Work Package that focuses on conducting a market study for DME, evaluating and reviewing the specifications for DME, conducting a policy review, and sustainability assessment. Dimeta has a supporting role in various other aspects of the project, including the definition of the feedstock supply and a market size study.
Together with other consortium members, Dimeta's contributions are fundamental in driving the project forward and ensuring its success.
"DME is a sustainable gas with a greenhouse gas footprint of up to 85% less compared to the fossil reference. At Dimeta, we are immensely proud to be part of both consortiums and work with prominent partners to contribute to developing production routes to DME to enable access to decarbonisation for everyone”, said Frankie Ugboma, Dimeta CEO.
For more on renewable Liquid Gas: https://www.worldliquidgas.org/key-focus-areas/renewable-liquid-gas/
30 May 2024
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