A new pilot plant in Guben, Germany will produce bio-based carbon fibers as an alternative to materials made from fossil fuels.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research is receiving €53.3 million from the German federal government and the state of Brandenburg for the facility. The plant is part of the Carbon Lab Factory Lausitz and will help transform the Lausitz region into a hub for high-performance materials.
Carbon fibers combine light weight with high strength and stiffness. They’re used in lightweight construction for cars, airplanes, wind turbines and bicycles, as well as in batteries, fuel cells and other energy system components. Conventional carbon fibers are predominantly made from fossil raw materials.
Bio-based carbon fibers conserve resources, offer a better CO2 balance and make supply chains more resilient. The industry already shows strong demand for alternatives.
Fraunhofer IAP will produce the fibers from cellulose or lignin extracted from wood. Raw materials are dissolved and spun into precursor fibers, then converted into carbon fibers through carbonization.
The pilot plant will allow production of various precursor fibers up to the ton scale. A laboratory-scale carbonization facility will convert new precursor fibers into carbon fibers at the kilogram scale for process optimization and industry testing.
The city of Guben is investing around €20 million in building construction. Fraunhofer IAP will use remaining funds for plant technology, equipment and setup. The plant is expected to start operation at the end of 2029.
A complementary pilot plant for ton-scale carbon fiber production is being established in Saxon Lausitz, operated by the Technical University of Chemnitz. Together with Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, the partners will develop carbon fiber-reinforced composite materials for lightweight applications.
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