Aircraft manufacturer Boeing and Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (COMAC) have partnered together to open a facility that will turn used cooking oil into jet fuel.
The two companies estimate that 500 million gallons of “sustainable aviation biofuel” could be made annually in China from cooking oil.
"Strong and continuing teamwork between Boeing and COMAC is helping our industry make progress on environmental challenges that no single company or country can solve alone," said Ian Thomas, president, Boeing China. "By working together for mutual benefit, we're finding innovative ways to support China's aviation industry and build a sustainable future."
The project will use technology to clean contaminants from waste oils and convert it into jet fuel at a rate of 160 gallons (650 litres) a day. The goal is to assess the technical feasibility and cost of producing higher volumes of biofuel.
In a statement Boeing said sustainably produced biofuel, which reduces carbon emissions by 50 to 80 per cent compared to petroleum, will play a key role in “supporting aviation’s growth while meeting environmental goals".
The Boeing Current Market Outlook has forecast that China will require more than 6,000 new airplanes by 2033 to meet fast-growing passenger demand for domestic and international air travel.
We are very happy to see the progress that has been made in the collaboration between Boeing and COMAC, especially the achievement in aviation biofuel technology," said Dr. Guangqiu Wang, VP of COMAC's Beijing aeronautical science and technology research institute.
"We will continue to work with Boeing in energy conservation and emissions reduction areas to promote the sustainable development of the aviation industry," he added.