MOSCOW, October 22 (RIA Novosti) - China has opened a demonstration facility converting waste cooking oil, or gutter oil, into sustainable aviation biofuel in a project sponsored by Boeing and Commercial Aircraft Crop of China (COMAC), Boeing announced Wednesday.
"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," President of Boeing China, Ian Thomas said of the project.
"By working together for mutual benefit, we're finding innovative ways to support China's aviation industry and build a sustainable future," the president added.
The facility, China-US Aviation Biofuel Pilot Project, uses a technology developed by Hangzhou Energy & Engineering Technology Co., Ltd. (HEET) to filter and convert waste oils into jet fuel at a rate of 160 gallons (650 liters) per day. Boeing and COMAC predict some 500 million gallons (1.8 billion liters) of biofuel can be produced from used cooking oil in China per year.
The facility will play a key role in supporting aviation expansion as well as preserving the environment. Biofuel produced by the facility can reduce carbon emissions by 50 to 80 percent in comparison to petroleum, a significant improvement since Boeing predicts the country will need 6,000 new airplanes by 2033. This type of biofuel has already been used in China for over 1,600 commercial flights.
Boeing and COMAC have been working together since 2012 with the aim of expanding China's commercial aviation industry. Their Boeing-COMAC Aviation Energy Conservation and Emissions Reductions Technology Center in Beijing collaborates with Chinese universities and research institutions to further research and improve aviation efficiency.
