Dimeta embarks on DME feasibility study

Dimeta and MyRechemical, part of the Sustainable Technology Solutions business unit led by NextChem (MAIRE Group), have agreed to carry out a study exploring the feasibility of the production of renewable and recycled carbon dimethyl ether (DME) from waste to decarbonize the LPG industry.

This study will analyze the technical and economic feasibility of DME production from waste in multiple sites in Europe. Based on the result of the study, the parties will work to define the best-developing strategy for project implementation.

This follows the initial agreement of the two companies, signed in February 2023, to offer low-carbon solutions to the market by exploring opportunities to develop plants to produce renewable and recycled carbon DME from waste that Dimeta will market.

Sustainable DME can be obtained with MyRechemical technologies that convert municipal solid waste to methanol and then to DME.

Dimeta and MyRechemical will also investigate feedstock availability in Europe and conduct a greenhouse gas emissions assessment of renewable and recycled carbon DME produced during the production process.

“We are delighted to announce our continued progress in building upon the memorandum of understanding (MoU) as we embark on our next endeavor to reduce carbon emissions,” says Frankie Ugboma, CEO of Dimeta. “Through the initiation of feasibility studies, we aim to produce renewable and recycled carbon DME from waste to decarbonize the off-grid sector. Dimeta remains steadfast in our efforts to achieve net zero by 2050, and this is a significant step towards our goal.”

Renewable liquid gases, like renewable and recycled carbon DME, can be produced through renewable feedstocks such as waste and is chemically similar to LPG. When blended with LPG, low-carbon DME can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 85 percent, improve air quality and decarbonize the off-grid sector with no changes to LPG appliances or infrastructure. It can also achieve over 100 percent emissions savings when carbon capture is used, according to Dimeta.

“With this feasibility study, which adds on the initiatives we are conducting on ethanol, methanol and hydrogen, we look forward to investigating the exciting market opportunities offered by the application of our proven waste gasification technology to the production of DME,” says Giacomo Rispoli, managing director of MyRechemical. “We are pleased that our MoU with Dimeta is already moving forward with this first concrete result.”

Established in February 2022 and headquartered in Leiden, Netherlands, Dimeta is a joint venture between SHV Energy and UGI International formed to further the production and use of renewable and recycled carbon DME. The organization aims to create 300,000 tons of renewable and recycled carbon DME production capacity by 2027.

In 2022, Dimeta announced its first commercial production plant in the United Kingdom, which will become operational in 2025 and produce more than 50,000 tons of sustainable DME made from waste. Subsequent plants are in development in Europe and the U.S.

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