One of the largest potential DME markets is the marine fuel market. The world’s major ports, as a condition of entry, are requiring vessels to meet limits on engine emission and are beginning to impose prohibitions on harmful fuel discharges. The environmental requirements can be met by the use of DME.Marine engines certified to run on DME already exist.
Remote mines are major consumers of diesel fuel; most mining equipment is powered with diesel engines and all electrical generation equipment at remote sites is run off of diesel fuel. The cost of diesel fuel represents one of the largest components of mining operating costs.
DME will allow mining companies to substitute a less expensive natural gas based for conventional diesel fuel. It will also allow the companies to meet the increasingly stringent emission standards being imposed on mining site diesel engines.
DME is a multi-use, non-GHG, biodegradable, non-toxic non-corrosive gas. The most significant advantages of DME is that it produces no soot (particulate emissions) eliminating the need for a diesel particulate filter.
Additionally DME fuelled C.I. engines produce no SOx emissions and reduced levels of NOx emissions.
DME | LNG | |
---|---|---|
Vehicle Cost | 20% - 30% more than a conventional diesel vehicle | 75% to 100% more expensive (adds approximately 225 kg to Tare) |
Fuelling Station Cost (Ex. Land Costs) | Equal to or Less than $0.25M | $1M - $2M |
Effects of Fugitive Releases | Non-toxic and no effect on air/soil/water quality; DME is not carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic Not a GHG | Greenhouse Gas value is 21 times that of CO2 and adversely affects local air quality |
On-Board Storage Conditions to maintain as a Liquid (Cost) | About 12 Bars of Pressure-($) | Cryogenic storage at -162°C (-260°F) – ($$$) |
Distribution Modalities | Standard LPG systems including Pipeline, Rail, Truck, Chemical, Marine Vessel & Small Canister | Ships, trucks and trains with specialized cryogenic storage systems |
Maintenance Facilities | Standard LPG (propane) | Specialized Systems required making the facilities more expensive than LPG facilities |