Written on: July 28, 2025
Renewable propane is already used in a range of capacities in the United States and beyond, most commonly in industrial, commercial and transportation roles. That said, we are seeing news of households getting access to rPG to power their heating systems and appliances.
Every year, over 4.5 million gallons of renewable propane are produced, and the World LP Gas Association has stated that the next few years will likely bring about 100 million gallons of rPG to the marketplace — with a potential capacity of 300 million gallons in the next decade.
To expand the role of rPG and other low-carbon liquid gases in this country and abroad, however, we need to see additional feedstocks and processes being developed. In recent weeks, we’ve learned of some exciting research in England.
Hydrogen Central reports that Aston University in Birmingham, England, has developed a compelling process for converting glycerol into renewable hydrogen and bio-based propane.
What is glycerol? It’s a syrupy, odorless and colorless liquid by-product of a series of production processes, including soap, cosmetics and, crucially, biodiesel. Glycerol is a natural compound containing the same chemical building blocks as propane.
For a while, researchers have known that glycerol could be converted to rPG with an external hydrogen reaction. This option had downsides, most notably that it wasn’t cost-effective. But Aston University’s research has shown that glycerol can be used to generate the hydrogen needed to react with other glycerol to create rPG. This process opens up a more affordable and eco-friendly avenue to generate rPG from the by-products of both biodiesel and other production lines.
Today, the majority of renewable propane in the U.S. comes from the hydrotreatment of esters and fatty acids, typically from fats, oils and grease. We also see the fuel coming from municipal wastes, forest and agricultural wastes and various energy crops. This current production pipeline can typically yield rPG with about one-quarter the carbon intensity of conventional propane (which is already quite low compared to other U.S. energy sources).
The exciting prospect for rPG and other renewable liquid gases is the potential we’re unlocking with research happening right now. In addition to the glycerol study happening in Birmingham, there are tremendous opportunities with the following research:
The future of renewable propane is full of possibilities. Want to stay in the know? Please consider joining the Renewable Propane Alliance.