PetroChina and Boeing cooperate to develop aviation biofuels

May 27, Boeing, PetroChina and representatives from the National Energy Agency and the global aviation industry announced a joint memorandum of understanding to assess China's establishment of a sustainable aviation biofuel industry.　　The strategic assessment, which is the first in China, will provide a comprehensive assessment of the environmental and socio-economic benefits of sustainable alternative fuel development. The project will assess all aspects of sustainable aviation biofuel development, including agronomy, energy input and output, life cycle emission analysis, infrastructure and government policy support. The assessment, which is expected to begin in June 2010, is part of a broader sustainable aviation biofuels agreement signed by China's National Energy Agency and the United States Trade Development Agency. The agreement aims to promote the application and industrialization of Chinese aviation biofuels.　　The remaining U.S. companies include Aecom, Honeywell's UOP and joint technology companies, while the Chinese team is led by CNPC. In addition, the Boeing Research and Technology department, the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Process in the Chinese Academy of Sciences, also announced the signing of a memorandum of cooperation to expand research cooperation, integrate other research institutions into sustainable aviation biofuels supply chains and collaborate on the development of algae aviation biofuels. The two sides announced the formation of a joint research laboratory dedicated to the development of algae cultivation, harvesting and processing technologies.　　The Joint Research Laboratory will be located in Qingdao, jointly managed by Boeing China Research and Development Center and Qingdao Bioenergy, and will focus on the commercial application of research and development technology. Air China, PetroChina, Boeing and Honeywell's UOP company announced a memorandum of cooperation to take advantage of the Chinese plant and processed biomass sustainable biofuel to make its maiden flight. PetroChina will provide biomass raw material, which is processed by UOP as aviation fuel. The bio-fuel test will be conducted in China to highlight the feasibility of the entire supply chain from seed to flight. Other details, such as the time and location of the test, will be announced later.