The consortium will focus on pyrolytic conversion of biomass from mallee eucalypt trees and intend to have a pilot biofuel production unit operating in Australia by next year.
The consortium includes Renewable Oil Corp, the Future Farm Industries CRC, and Canadian biofuels company Dynamotive Energy Systems alongside Virgin Australia and now GE.
GE is developing fuel efficient jet engines within its sustainable transport portfolio, as part of its ecomagination initiative.
In addition, the company is now entered into the development of biofuels, GE said.
Before being approved for commercial use, new fuels undergo rigorous tests in laboratories, on engine test rigs and then in carefully monitored non-commercial flights.
