Airbus, Sinopec to set up JV to develop green fuel

The European Aircraft maker Airbus SAS and China Petroleum & Chemical Corp, or Sinopec, the country's largest fuel supplier, have agreed to work together to develop cleaner jet fuel in China.

Airbus said in a statement the companies are helping China establish airworthiness certification for renewable jet fuels made from locally grown plants, a process which could take two years, according to Frederic Eychenne, Airbus new energies program manager.

Sinopec has developed its own technology for making jet fuel from biomass and waste oil at a new refinery near Shanghai, according to the statement, one of the only operations capable of making aviation fuel from biomass in large quantities.

The companies are also working to set up an alternative fuel "value chain" in China, which will bring together growers, distributors and government agencies to help accelerate its commercialization.