Material manufacturer receives DOE award for low-cost carbon fiber

Zoltek Companies Inc. was notified by the U.S. Department of Energy / National Energy Technology Laboratory that it has been selected for negotiations leading to a $3.7 million financial assistance award for its application “Development and Commercialization of a Novel Low Cost Carbon Fiber”. This notification was part of a larger announcement by DOE Secretary Dr. Steven Chu regarding awards of more than $175 million for Advanced Vehicle Research and Development.

 “This is an exciting program for Zoltek and very important for the future of carbon fiber, especially for automotive applications,” says Zoltek CTO George Husman. “Weyerhaeuser Co. is our joint development partner in this project. Zoltek has been working with that company for a year and a half developing a novel low cost route to carbon fiber using a lignin / PAN hybrid precursor. Combining this precursor with improvements in operating and energy efficiencies for carbon conversion will provide lower cost carbon fiber for automotive and other applications,” such as turbine blades.

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Research center for carbon fiber blades

Low-cost carbon fiber for industrial applications, including advanced wind turbine blades, is one goal for an expanding chemical company. Dow Chemical Co., Midland, Mich., says it will expand its renewable and alternative energy reach in the state thanks to more than $108 million in business tax credits and grants. In addition, the Michigan Economic Growth Authority is expected to approve $103 million in tax credits and incentives for Dow’s Powerhouse Solar Shingle project and Kokam advanced battery manufacturing facility.

The $20 million carbon-fiber project will create a center focused on developing low-cost carbon fiber for use in the production of advanced wind turbine blades and in transportation applications. The company is partnering with Oak Ridge National Laboratory to develop the material over about three years, said Steve Bakkal, the Wind Energy Sector Development director for the Michigan Economic Development Corp. The project will be sited in one of Dow’s existing facilities. And while it won’t immediately create jobs, it will have job creation potential later, drawing wind-turbine-blade manufacturers, and other companies who can use the carbon fiber, to the Great Lakes Bay Region, he said.

Research center for carbon fiber blades

Low-cost carbon fiber for industrial applications, including advanced wind turbine blades, is the goal for an expanding chemical company. Dow Chemical Co., Midland, Mich., says it will expand its renewable and alternative energy reach in the state thanks to more than $108 million in business tax credits and grants. In addition, the Michigan Economic Growth Authority is expected to approve $103 million in tax credits and incentives for Dow’s Powerhouse Solar Shingle project and Kokam advanced battery manufacturing facility.
A $20 million carbon-fiber project will create a center focused on developing low-cost carbon fiber for use in the production of advanced wind turbine blades and in transportation applications. The company is partnering with Oak Ridge National Laboratory to develop the material over about three years, said Steve Bakkal, the Wind Energy Sector Development director for the Michigan Economic Development Corp. The project will be sited in one of Dow’s existing facilities. And while it won’t immediately create jobs, it will have job creation potential later, drawing wind turbine blade manufacturers and other companies who can use the carbon fiber to the Great Lakes Bay Region, he said.