Sep 5 2014
Oberon Fuels has received the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) approval for inclusion of its biogas-based dimethyl ether (DME) fuel under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Under the RFS, Oberon DME fuel is entitled for RFS D-Code 5 (advanced) and D-Code 3 (cellulosic) renewable identification numbers (RINs).
When Oberon DME fuel was compared with baseline diesel fuel, the EPA found that Oberon's production process led to around 68% reduction in emission of greenhouse gases.
Oberon Fuels' president, Rebecca Boudreaux, stated that the DME biogas produced fuel received EPA approval for inclusion under the RFS within a year of submitting a petition seeking approval. The company was excited with EPA's continued support of such innovative fuels, she added.
Elliot Hicks, the co-founder and COO of Oberon, stated that basically DME was a simple fuel and could be handled in the same way as propane could be handled. This fuel could be used in simple diesel engines.
This EPA approval has resulted in the availability of another renewable fuel, which is domestically produced, especially for the heavy-duty sector of the transportation industry.
The senior vice president of public affairs at Volvo Group North America, Susan Alt, commented that the company's customers utilized heavy-duty applications that required important properties of a diesel engine - torque and power. Other alternatives to diesel fuel required high compression or cryogenics, while the new Oberon DME fuel provided the same power without such requirements. The company would continue to collaborate with Oberon for demonstrating the advantages of this clean alternative to diesel fuel.
ASTM International had released ASTM D7901 specification for DME in February 2014. It provides guidelines on testing, handling, safety and purity of DME fuel.