By JOE McDONALD
BEIJING (AP) .- The United States and China on Wednesday launched a joint research initiative to develop biofuels for the Chinese airlines, based on algae or oil nuts, and said the inaugural flight could happen this year.
The announcement of a series of research partnerships follows a promise from the two governments during a high-level meeting to cooperate closely in the search for renewable energy, which both said is essential to combating climate change and could stimulate new industries.
"Developing renewable energy is central to our cooperation with China," said Sandalow, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Energy, at a conference on renewable fuels.
The two sides signed a series of agreements of collaboration between Boeing Co., U.S. government agencies and research institutions in China, as well as state companies like Air China Ltd. and PetroChina Ltd.
The first flight in China with the use of biofuels could occur this year and the fuel could be used in commercial aviation over a period of three to five years, said Al Bryant, Boeing vice president for research and technology in China.
He said four test flights using biofuels have already been conducted in the U.S..
"We have already proved it can be done," Bryant said. "Now is a matter of increasing it so that it can be marketed."
China is on track to become the largest aviation market in the world in the coming decades and Beijing is actively promoting alternative fuels to help clean the environment and reduce its growing dependence on imported oil and gas.
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