Oberon Fuels, based in California, is a clean energy technology company, co-founded in 2010 by Elliot Anise-Hicks. Oberon Fuels’ core mission is to cut global carbon emissions by replacing fossil fuels with renewable alternatives, especially renewable dimethyl ether (DME) produced from organic and biogas waste.
This work has earned the company recognition by the World Economic Forum as a Technology Pioneer and a spot in Time’s Best Innovations of 2023.
The company produces renewable, ultra-low-carbon fuels from organic waste, such as renewable methanol, hydrogen, and renewable natural gas, but their primary focus is on DME - a sustainable alternative to traditional aerosol propellants, which are typically fossil-based and carbon-intensive.
Produced from organic waste streams, such as waste methanol from the pulp and paper industry, renewable DME offers the same chemical properties as conventional options, enabling seamless integration into existing aerosol systems without changes to equipment or formulations.
Beyond compatibility, DME delivers significant environmental benefits: lowering greenhouse gas emissions by using low carbon aerosol propellants, and supporting a circular economy by transforming industrial waste into valuable raw materials. These advantages make renewable DME a smart, sustainable choice for both consumer and industrial applications.
L’Oréal adopting renewable DME would offer a direct path to decarbonising product lines while adhering to manufacturing realities and maintaining product performance.
Elliot Anise-Hicks, co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Oberon Fuels said, “Joining L’AcceleratOR is an exciting step for Oberon because it allows us to work closely with L’Oréal to explore renewable DME as a sustainable alternative to current options. The accelerator gives us a clear framework to fast-track testing and collaboration that could ultimately create a pilot project for producing renewable DME that meets L’Oréal’s unique requirements for spraying formulas.”