Clean Energy from Dimethyl Ether

SRI Consulting Publishes Techno-Economic DME from Coal Report
MENLO PARK, Calif.--(Business Wire)--
Dimethyl ether (DME) is a clean energy fuel that can be manufactured from
various primary energy resources including coal. DME is a colorless, nontoxic
and environmentally benign compound used in industry today as a solvent and a
propellant in aerosol products. When DME is combusted, it generates absolutely
no sulfur oxides and 90% less nitrogen oxide emissions than today`s fossil
fuels. Today, SRI Consulting (SRIC) published its techno-economic report DME
from Coal providing detailed analysis of two leading DME from coal technologies
and their process economics.

Author and SRIC senior consultant Ron Smith commented, "According to the
International Energy Agency, long term global energy demand is expected to
increase by 60% between 2002 and 2030. In this report, we have calculated that
DME as an energy source is economically viable when the crude oil price is at
US$55 a barrel. Clearly DME needs to be part of the future energy supply."

Conventional DME (methanol dehydration) technology lacks the efficiency for
large-scale production. By integrating coal gasification and single step DME
technology, large-scale production can be achieved from low cost coal. SRIC`s
DME from Coal report provides process economics for integrated production of DME
from coal using indirect process technology developed by Haldor-Topsoe, and a
direct process technology developed by JFE Holding. The report shows comparative
economic summary results for both technologies which are presented at two
different capacity levels, 2500 and 5000 metric tons/day.

The DME from Coal report is essential for technical and business managers
involved in planning and understandingthe market potential of DME as a fuel for
power generation, transportation, and domestic use, as well as for the
production of industrial chemicals.

For additional information, contact RJ Chang, SRIC`s PEP Director at
rchang@sriconsulting.com +1 650 384 4307, or visit the website at
www.sriconsulting/com/PEP.

About SRI Consulting

SRI Consulting (SRIC) is the world`s leading business research service for the
global chemical industry. Publishing for almost 60 years, SRI Consulting is the
preeminent source for in-depth business and process analysis. This report was
developed by the Process Economics Program (PEP) group providing in-depth,
independent technical and economic evaluation of both commercial and emerging
technologies for the chemical and energy industries. SRI Consulting`s
headquarters are located in Menlo Park, California with offices in The
Woodlands, Texas; Zürich, Switzerland; Tokyo, Japan; and Beijing, China. SRI
Consulting is a division of Access Intelligence, LLC. Additional Information is
available at www.sriconsulting.com.

SRI Consulting (SRIC) is a trade name and a registered trademark of SRI
International, used under license.

SRI Consulting
Susan Wright, +1 650-384-4348
Fax: +1 650-330-1190
Email: swright@sriconsulting.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009