The aerospace giant currently consumes about 10 million gallons of jet fuel annually at its engine testing centers.
The 10-year agreement with D'Arcinoff Group calls for GE's to buy at least 500,000 gallons of low-emission jet fuel annually for its main jet engine testing facility in Peebles, Ohio.
"Developing alternative sources for jet fuel is fundamentally good for the aviation industry and the environment," said Mike Epstein, chief technologist leading the alternative fuels efforts at GE Aviation. "This collaboration enables GE Aviation to further its experience with alternative bio-fuels in our engines, and foster the development of a fuel source which has great potential."
Various options written into the contract could increase those purchases to 10 million gallons, according to a written statement from GE.
Since 2007, GE Aviation has partnered with several government entities and airlines worldwide in demonstrating various alternative fuels in its engines - either through ground tests or full-fledged aircraft flight demonstrations.
The demonstrations have involved several GE engine models from the F414 fighter jet for the Boeing F/A-18 to the GE CF6 commercial engine (shown in the photo) for such large airliners as the Boeing 767.
The fuel will be produced at the D'Arcinoff Group Energy Program facility, which will integrate synthetic fuel, power generation and distribution. The facility, to be located in Hudspeth County, Texas, is expected to be operational by early 2016.
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