Renewable liquid gases are an essential part of the decarbonisation solution by providing a sustainable, clean and reliable energy source to the off-grid energy segment. Renewable and recycled carbon DME (rDME) can be produced from waste and renewable feedstocks and can potentially save CO₂ emissions up to 80% compared to fossil liquefied petroleum gases (LPG).

Significant carbon savings can be achieved either by blending rDME with LPG or by 100% replacing fossil LPG with rDME, hence helping the sector to reach net-zero GHG emissions in line with global government targets. Our industry partner Dimeta B.V. has embarked on the first pilot plant to produce rDME in the UK, with ambitions to expand to the EU and USA, to accelerate the uptake of the renewable alternative LPG fuels. However, the key barriers are:

1. The system efficiency and optimisation
2. Scale-up capabilities
3. Policy support for technology uptake.

This project will address these barriers investigating how to maximise the system performance and enable uptake and effective use of low-carbon alternative fuels for the off-grid LPG segment. We will study process optimisation and how to maximise energy efficiency to enhance techno-economic viability. This will be done through modelling combustion and emission analysis at point of use and feedstock sensitivity to support process design and scale-up. We will also conduct a study to identify regional resources, strengths and case studies for demonstration.

This project is led by Ruoyang Yuan and Abdallah Abu Saleh, University of Sheffield.

Progress Update 2025

• A full Aspen Plus model of the rDME production process has been developed, starting from syngas compositions derived from biomass gasification. The model simulates the full indirect route (syngas to methanol to DME), covering reforming, purification, compression, methanol synthesis, and DME synthesis stages.

• Two versions of the model have been created using syngas compositions obtained at steam-to-biomass ratios of 0.6 and 1.2. This allows comparison of product yields and system performance across different gas feed conditions.

• Initial outputs show DME production rates of ~900 kg/h with a purity of 99.1 wt%, meeting industry fuel standards and suitable for use in blended off-grid LPG applications.

• Thermal efficiencies fall within expected ranges reported in literature, supporting the model’s credibility and future techno-economic analysis.

• Ongoing engagement with industry partners is focused on defining suitable fuel specifications for renewable DME blends, especially regarding methanol tolerance and appliance compatibility.