New method uses microalgae to create eco-friendly carbon fibers for manufacturing

Carbon fibers are essential in aviation, wind energy, and lightweight construction. However, since they are based on petroleum, their production has been very harmful to the environment. A research consortium led by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has now succeeded in developing a production process for carbon fibers from renewable raw materials.

Project coordinator Prof. Thomas Brück, head of the TUM Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, emphasizes, “With the joint GreenCarbon project, we have taken a major step toward sustainable industrial carbon fiber production.” In addition to TUM, the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB, the company SGL Carbon, and the aerospace group Airbus are also involved in the consortium.

https://phys.org/news/2025-07-method-microalgae-eco-friendly-carbon.html