Airbus teams up with Tsinghua on alternative fuel

European aviation giant Airbus said Monday that it has formed a partnership with Tsinghua University to explore alternative aviation bio-fuels.

The two sides will work together on a sustainability analysis of Chinese feedstocks, including algae and waste cooking oil, and develop a value chain to speed up the use and commercialization of aviation bio-fuels, said the company.

"We are privileged to be working with our Chinese partners to determine how best we can contribute to a sustainable aviation sector in China," said Frederic Eychenne, Airbus New Energies Programme Manager.

The analysis, managed by Airbus and involves collaboration with Tsinghua and other leading European institutions, will assess suitable feedstocks and then narrow down the most promising alternative fuel solutions.

The first batch of results are due to be released by the end of the year, while the full sustainability analysis should be completed by the beginning of 2013, according to the plan.

From 2013, both sides will start analysis on production of the alternative fuel and the promotion of its commercial use.

"The project will help us improve the understanding of the nature of aviation biofuels commercialization in China, identify the opportunities and challenges, and evaluate the possibility of social, economic, market and technology change and its cost, obstacles and challenges," said Professor Zhang Xiliang, the project manager of Tsinghua.

"We believe that the research will have positive effects on energy conservation, emissions reduction and climate change addressing in Chinese aviation sector," said Zhang, who is the director of Institute of Energy, Environment and Economy at Tsinghua University.