Written on: May 2, 2022
Looking Toward the Future, Today
A true consortium, the Renewable Propane Alliance comprises innovative thought leaders from across the propane industry.
The Alliance seeks to educate the public—and the industry—about the future of propane and the impact that renewable propane will have on the environment, the economy and day-to-day life in the United States and around the world. As it becomes increasingly accessible, renewable propane, along with other renewable fuels and energy, will keep America forging ahead on the path to a cleaner, greener and healthier world.
Each Alliance member brings with them years of experience and accomplishment in the effort to move America in the right direction on all of these fronts.
The Renewable Propane Alliance supports and builds upon the goal of introducing renewable propane in the United States. “We believe that renewable propane is a safe, reliable and economical part of the solution for an energy-efficient future,” the organization’s website states.
“Join us in becoming an active part of the movement toward a renewable future in energy in the United States.”
Founding partner organizations include Warm Thoughts Communications, the Western Propane Gas Association, the Propane Gas Association of New England, the North Carolina Propane Gas Association, the Texas Propane Gas Association, Oberon Fuels and the World Energy Group.
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.
Converting Waste Into Energy
The value of converting waste into energy can stand on its own, regardless of its impact on our consumption of fossil fuels.
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.
For more information on the Renewable Propane Alliance, visit the organization’s website.
