New use for DME in biofuel production found in Japan

BLUEFUELENERGY.COM: In a potentially revolutionary use of dimethyl ether, the Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI) in Japan has developed a method using synthetic dimethyl ether to extract biofuel from algae. The Denki Shimbun is reporting that by using liquified DME in the oil extraction process, energy consumption can be reduced by more than 50% while extracting greater amounts of oil than conventional methods. CRIEPI will continue to verify the process and hopes for commercialization by 2013.

Japan's DME Vehicle Promotion Committee wins DME Clean Fuel Achievement Award

WWW.BLUEFUELENERGY.COM: During a special ceremony held during the 6th Asian DME Conference in Seoul, South Korea in September, 2009, Japan's DME Vehicle Promotion Committee (DMEVPC) was awarded the annual DME Clean Fuel Achievement Award.

Known as "The DME Award" and presented by the International DME Association, this award "recognizes companies, organizations, and individuals who have made noteworthy contributions to the development and commercialization of dimethyl ether as a clean fuel source.

The award was presented by IDA Executive Director, Christopher Kidder and was accepted on behalf of the DME Vehicle Promotion Committee by DMEVPC Chair Yasuhiko Mikita and Secretary-General Ryoji Wakasa. As stated on their website, the 2009-2010 objectives for the DMEVPC are:

• To comply with a new subsidy plan by Japan's MLIT (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) and put forward a 2009 proposal for new project allowing DME trucks to operate commercially.
• Demonstration of DME Trucks in a commercial transport operation covering the full production chain for DME fuel, including manufacturing, distribution, and relevant infrastructure for DME vehicles in Japan's Niigata region.
• To support newly built DME (4 tons) trucks built by Isuzu for commercial use in 2009 and to introduce DME trucks to the transportation industry and general users.
• To continue commerical operations using existing DME trucks (like those manufactured by Nissan Diesel) after MLITT’s subsidies ceased in Dec. 2008.
• To support technical improvement of DME filling speed/measurement and development of low-priced sealing materials suitable for DME piping/storage tanks.
• The advancement of deregulation reform on DME infrastructure in line with that of LPG.

Last year's winner of the DME Clean Fuel Achievement Awardwas China's ENN Group .

Tokyo DME Seminar a Success

BLUEFUELENERGY.COM: On Tuesday, June 16th, approximately 300 people attended the DME Seminar 2009 in the Heisei Plaza at the Tokyo International Exchange located on Tokyo's waterfront.

The Seminar was a cooperative venture of prominent Japanese DME organizations: the Japan DME Vehicle Promotion Committee (DMEVPC), the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Japan DME Forum, and the DME Promotion Center. The meeting also had the support of the Kanto Economic Development Organization as well as Kanagawa and Niigata Prefectures and Niigata City..

Hosted by Dr. Mitsuhara Oguma of AIST, the seminar theme was Opening Doors to the Practical Application of DME.

There were seven presentations and included topics such as the Practical Applications of DME in Japan, Japanese Trends in DME, the Approach of Regional Governments to DME, DME in China Today, LPG/DME Blending Technology, Dewatering Technology for Sewage Sludge and a Panel Discussion which included a presentation from Canada's Blue Fuel Energy Corporation.

Noted speakers included Dr. Shinichi Goto of AIST, Akira Ishiwada of FDME and Mitsubishi Gas Chemical, Yasuhito Mikita of Iwatani International, Emiko Murakami of the Kitakyushu Office for International Environmental Cooperation, Koichi Nishimura of Isuzu Motors, and others. The panel discussion was moderated by Professor Iida of Keio University while the closing address was by Chairman Fujimoto of Japan DME Forum.

Following up on the seminar, on Monday, June 22, DMEVPC's Fuel Group held a working session which included six presentations including sessions on ISO standards for DME purity from Mr. Hiroshi Kita of MGC and Professor Oguma of ASIT, as well as a fascinating overview of world fuel markets from Total Japan. Blue Fuel Energy Corp. was also invited to give a presentation as were members from Bosch and JFE Holdings. Yasuto Ando of JFE's Corporate Planning Dept. described the trial project "100 Tons of DME per Day" which, though successful in achieving its goal, ended in 2006 in Kushiro, Japan.

Twenty-two Fuel Group members and guests attended the session.

Japan DME Vehicle Promotion Committee to hold June Tokyo seminar

BLUEFUELENERGY.COM: On Tuesday, June 16th, 2009, the Japan DME Vehicle Promotion Committee is holding a DME seminar with the theme of "Towards Practical Applications of DME."

This free-of-charge seminar will take place in the Plaza Heisei at the Tokyo International Exchange Center in Tokyo's Koto Ward.

Presentations will include reports on the state of DME in Japan and China as well as more specific talks on waste streams and the progress being made towards the use of DME in vehicles.

The DME Vehicle Promotion Committee was formed in 2006 and is subsidized by a number of Japanese government organizations, including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism as well as JOGMEC, a sub-group of the Ministry of of Economy, Trade and Industry (MITI). Originally composed of 17 private companies but now consisting of 13, the current committee includes such major firms as Idemitsu Kosan, Isuzu Advanced Engineering, Iwatani Corporation, Japan DME Ltd., JFE Holdings, Toyota Tsusho, and others.

Representatives of Blue Fuel Energy Corporation of Sidney, BC, will also be attending the conference.