U.S. aircraft maker Boeing has said that it will to invest USD500,000 each year over the next five years in its aviation biofuel research center in Qingdao.
The center was jointly launched by Boeing and the Qingdao Institute of BioEnergy and Bioprocess Technology and is called the Joint Research Lab for Sustainable Aviation Biofuels.
The company is focused on algal growth, harvesting, and processing technologies.
Boeing is planning to conduct a test of a commercial-jet biofuel in China in May or June 2011. The test will be the company's sixth demonstration flight using biofuel.
The test will be made in conjunction with Air China, the country's flagship carrier, and will use fuel based on jatropha oil supplied by PetroChina.
