The established pathways for DME production are through methanol as an intermediate. This pathway requires separate plants for methanol synthesis followed by DME production.<\/p>\n
RealCarbonTech (RCT) is a clean fuels company based in the US. Its technology can produce e-DME in a single plant fed with CO2 and electrolytic green hydrogen. This plant has the same design as a methanol plant, but when tailored for the production of DME the process uses a different catalyst in the reactor. The benefit of the RCT approach is simplification of the process since it omits one reaction stage, resulting in reduced capital expense.<\/p>\n
Tomasz Zmys\u0142owski, CEO of RCT, says that \u201cone of the advantages is our modular plant construction approach. This means we do not need a high concentration of renewable power or biogenic CO2 in one location. It also enables off-grid systems which can produce e-methanol or e-DME as a convenient way to move green electrons to consumers of energy or processors of sustainable chemicals.\u201d<\/p>\n
RCT has plans to construct a commercial unit which will have the capability to convert circa 170,000 tonnes per year of biogenic CO2 and electrolytic green hydrogen to produce more than 100,000 tonnes per year of e-DME.<\/p>\n
Commercial operations are scheduled to start in late 2026 and early 2027. \u201cThere is still some capacity available for partners willing to consider off-take agreements from this project\u201d, adds Zmys\u0142owski. Product from the plant can be delivered to New York or any other US port.<\/p>\n
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