China Eastern Airlines to Run Commercial Flights on Biofuel

April 29, 2013 by Mike Sauter

China
Source: Thinkstock
By Joao Peixe, oilprice.com  | Thu, 25 April 2013 21:45
Benefit From the Latest Energy Trends and Investment Opportunities before the mainstream media and investing public are aware they even exist. The Free Oilprice.com Energy Intelligence Report gives you this and much more. Click here to find out more.

China Eastern Airlines has just announced that it will begin operating commercial flights which run on 100% biofuel, having completed a successful trial of the renewable aviation fuel on Wednesday.

After an 85 minute test flight, running on a biofuel made from a blend of palm oil and recycled cooking oil by Sinopec, the Airbus A320 landed at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport reporting no problems, or differences from traditional aviation fuel.

Huang Zhongwen, the deputy director of publicity at Zinopec, said that they “have developed two kinds of biofuel, palm oil and waste cooking oil, and the fuel we used during this flight was palm oil. We have the capability of turning waste cooking oil into jet fuel, although the cost will be higher than producing ordinary fuel.”

Related article: Big Numbers, Big Profits: The Fleetingly Lucrative RIN Trade

Biofuels have become increasingly popular in the airline industry as a manner to counter rising oil prices, and reduce the sectors carbon emissions. In 2011 Air China demonstrated the use of a biofuel produced entirely from the jatropha plant; and other major airlines, such as KLM, Lufthansa, BA, and United Airlines, have also carried out their own experiments with a variety of biofuels.

Earlier this month the White House extended a programme that supports the production of one billion gallons of aviation biofuel by 2018.

Take This Retirement Quiz To Get Matched With A Financial Advisor (Sponsored)

Take the quiz below to get matched with a financial advisor today.

Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests.

Here’s how it works:
1. Answer SmartAsset advisor match quiz
2. Review your pre-screened matches at your leisure. Check out the
advisors’ profiles.
3. Speak with advisors at no cost to you. Have an introductory call on the phone or introduction in person and choose whom to work with in the future

Take the retirement quiz right here.