Indian Scientists Unveil DME Technology to Reduce LPG Imports

Scientists at the CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL) in Pune have developed an innovative technology to produce Dimethyl Ether (DME), a clean-burning fuel that could significantly reduce India’s reliance on imported Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). This advancement aligns with the country’s goal of achieving energy self-reliance under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

The new DME technology offers a sustainable alternative to LPG, which India imports in large quantities. Currently, over 80 percent of the country’s fossil energy needs are met through imports. Disruptions in global supply chains have recently caused LPG prices to soar, affecting many households, especially those benefiting from the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, a government initiative aimed at providing cooking gas connections to low-income families.

Advantages of DME in Energy Security

DME is recognized for its clean-burning properties, emitting significantly lower levels of soot, nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), and particulate matter compared to conventional fuels. It provides comparable thermal efficiency, making it an attractive alternative for various applications. In a press release, CSIR-NCL highlighted that the Bureau of Indian Standards has approved a standard, IS 18698:2024, permitting a blend of up to 20 percent DME with LPG for domestic, commercial, and industrial uses.

Research indicates that blending just 8 percent of DME with LPG could yield foreign exchange savings of approximately ₹9,500 crore annually. This significant reduction in imports would require a production capacity of nearly 1,300 tonnes of DME per day to supply the 10.5 crore LPG connections under the Ujjwala scheme.

Applications and Production Process

DME’s versatility extends beyond cooking fuel. It can also serve as an automotive fuel and as a propellant in aerosol products, replacing ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Furthermore, DME can act as a chemical intermediate for producing lower olefins, dimethyl sulfate, and methyl acetate.

The CSIR-NCL team, led by Thirumalaiswamy Raja, has developed a patent-protected process that converts methanol into DME using a highly effective and cost-efficient catalyst. The technology operates at roughly 10 bar pressure, allowing the DME to be directly filled into LPG cylinders with minimal operational costs. The process has been successfully scaled up to a pilot production capacity of 250 kg per day.

Additionally, the institute has engineered a patented burner prototype that operates effectively with any blend of LPG and DME, having undergone efficiency testing at the LPG Equipment Research Centre in Bengaluru.

Future Prospects and Collaboration

Looking ahead, CSIR-NCL is preparing to establish an industrial demonstration plant with a production capacity of 2.5 tonnes of DME per day within the next six to nine months. This initiative is part of a collaboration with a process engineering partner and aims to pave the way for commercial plants capable of producing between 50 and 100 tonnes per day.

The institute has expressed interest in partnering with major public sector oil companies and bioenergy firms to advance the technology to commercial scale. Scientists at CSIR-NCL believe that widespread adoption of DME can bolster India’s energy security, decrease reliance on imported LPG, and contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable energy landscape.

As India continues to pursue energy independence, the development of indigenous technologies like DME represents a crucial step towards enhancing the nation’s energy security and sustainability efforts.