24. Mar 2026
Paving the way for "green" carbon fibres
A new pilot plant in Guben is set to enable the production of biobased carbon fibres.
The plant is part of the Carbon Lab Factory Lausitz and will make an important contribution to the transformation of the Lausitz region (Germany/Polen) – from a traditionally raw material- and basic industry-oriented region to a hub for innovative high-performance materials. The German federal government and the state of Brandenburg are providing the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP with EUR 53.3 million for this purpose.
Carbon fibres are high-performance materials that combine lightness with high strength and stiffness. They are particularly in demand in lightweight construction, which is a key factor for developing efficient and resource-saving materials for future industries. The lighter cars, airplanes, wind turbines, or bicycles are, the more energy-efficiently they can be operated. Carbon fibres are also increasingly important for energy generation, conversion, and storage, for example in batteries, fuel cells, or other components of modern energy systems.
Conventional carbon fibres are predominantly produced from fossil raw materials. To expand the raw material base with sustainable alternatives, biobased carbon fibres are gaining increasing attention. They conserve resources, have a better CO2 balance, and make the value chain more resilient. In addition, their properties can be specifically tailored to different applications. The industry already shows strong demand for such alternatives.
Concentrated expertise in biobased carbon fibres
The production of biobased carbon fibres is a specialty of Fraunhofer IAP: In a first step, raw materials such as cellulose or lignin from wood are dissolved and spun into precursor fibres. These are then converted into carbon fibres through carbonization.
To scale these processes for industrial applications, a pilot plant will be established in Guben as part of the Carbon Lab Factory Lausitz. The project is financed with EUR 53.3 million by the Brandenburg Ministry of Science, Research, and Culture through Wirtschaftsregion Lausitz GmbH (WRL) and the federal government. The positive decision on funding by the Interministerial Working Group (IMAG) on March 12, 2026, marks an important milestone for implementation. The city of Guben is investing around 20 million euros in the construction of the building in the Guben Industrial Park. Fraunhofer IAP will use the remaining funds for plant technology, equipment, and initial setup. The plant is expected to start operation at the end of 2029.
André Lehmann, Head of the Polymer Processing Research Division and Fiber Technologies Department at Fraunhofer IAP, explains: "With the Carbon Lab Factory Lausitz in Guben, we are creating the conditions for a research and pilot infrastructure where various innovative precursor fibres can be produced up to the ton scale."
Jens Erdmann, Head of the Polymer Engineering Division at Fraunhofer IAP, adds: "We are also establishing a laboratory-scale carbonization facility that converts the new precursor fibres into carbon fibres at the kilogram scale. This allows us to efficiently evaluate process behaviour and potential, optimize the processes, and gather valuable insights for larger scales. We can also provide industry with sample quantities for testing."
In close cooperation with partners in the Lausitz, Fraunhofer IAP is further developing precursor and carbon fibres for various lightweight and energy applications, thereby strengthening the transfer to industrial use.
Pioneering cross-state collaboration complementing
Fraunhofer IAP's initiative, a pilot plant for tonne-scale carbon fibre production is being established in the Saxon Lausitz. Operated by the Technical University of Chemnitz, this plant can process both conventional and Fraunhofer IAP-provided precursor fibres. In cooperation with the Institute for Lightweight Design and Value Chain Management at Brandenburg University of Technology (BTU) Cottbus-Senftenberg, carbon fibre-reinforced composite materials are tailored for diverse lightweight applications. Together with regional companies, the partners test demonstrators and prototypes under real-world conditions. This accelerates the transfer of research results into industrial applications and strengthens the region as a hub for high-performance materials.
The Carbon Lab Factory Lausitz is embedded in the Lausitz research infrastructure, where the Lausitz Science Park will serve as a future hub for joint initiatives with local innovation drivers, for example.
"By combining the expertise of the participating institutions, the Carbon Lab Factory Lausitz creates a globally unique complete value chain in the region and beyond, ranging from renewable raw materials to components for lightweight applications", says Alexander Böker, Director of Fraunhofer IAP, who initiated the Carbon Lab Factory Lausitz together with Professor Kroll from the Technical University of Chemnitz. The cross-state cooperation is considered a flagship project for sustainably produced carbon fibres. AT
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