Boeing, COMAC open 'biofuel' centre

by CHIEF CORRESPONDENT, TOM BALLANTYNE  

September 1st 2012

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The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) and planemaker Boeing last month opened an Aviation Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction Technology Centre in Beijing. Its first research project is to treat and clean used cooking oil to use as jet fuel. Read More »

Boeing is also researching other biofuel materials, such as jatropha oil, with other institutes in China. “Different regions have different materials for biofuel and we are looking for the most suitable one for China,” said Marc Allen, president of Boeing China. He said it could take five to 10 years to promote biofuel usage.

COMAC and Boeing will invest capital and human resources in the new centre.

Sinopec, China’s largest oil producer, is also looking to begin testing used cooking oil to fuel jet aircraft.