Propane and Renewable Propane: What’s the connection?
Propane and renewable propane are molecularly identical. This means that they can be blended without the expense and labor of conversion. The difference is that they’re coming from different sources. The renewable sources that have been instrumental in perfecting the production of renewable propane to date include animal oils, vegetable oils, biomass and other triglycerides.
To be clear, sources that go into producing renewable propane are not only materials most consider to be waste. The feedstock for renewable propane can include plant matter like corn.
As time goes on, renewable propane can—and will—be used to fuel autogas fleets, commercial landscaping vehicles and construction machines.
Dimethyl Ether (DME): A helpful piece of the equation
A colorless gas whose molecules are known to be compatible with propane for many applications, including use as a transportation fuel, dimethyl ether (DME) is an integral part of the future of renewable propane.
Renewable DME is produced from carbon captured out of the atmosphere—including gas from cows, for example. The decarbonization of fossil propane is one very productive step in the right direction.
A blend of bio-DME combined with fossil propane offers a decarbonized option. And when the DME is combined with renewable propane, the benefits are even further increased.