Carbowave

Category: News

  • CARBOWAVE Joins HEATShift Cluster to Strengthen EU Collaboration on Clean Industrial Heating

    CARBOWAVE Joins HEATShift Cluster to Strengthen EU Collaboration on Clean Industrial Heating

    New partnership unites EU-funded initiatives to accelerate innovation, knowledge exchange, and the transition to low-carbon, energy-efficient industrial heat solutions.

    CARBOWAVE has announced its collaboration with the HEATShift Cluster, a strategic network of EU-funded projects focused on advancing clean energy technologies and improving efficiency in industrial heating. This partnership marks an important step toward reinforcing cooperation among leading research institutions, industry partners, and innovation-driven projects across Europe.

    Through this collaboration, CARBOWAVE and the HEATShift Cluster aim to drive forward technological innovation, facilitate knowledge sharing, and support the accelerated transition toward a low-carbon, energy-efficient industrial future. By aligning research efforts and dissemination activities, the partnership seeks to maximize impact and contribute to Europe’s climate and energy objectives.

    The HEATShift Cluster actively welcomes projects working in the field of industrial heat decarbonisation and clean energy solutions. By broadening its network, the cluster strengthens collective efforts, fosters synergies among projects, and enhances the visibility and uptake of research outcomes at both policy and industry levels.

    Stakeholders and interested parties are encouraged to follow the HEATShift Cluster for updates on breakthroughs, joint initiatives, and upcoming collaborations. The cluster brings together prominent partners including the University of Valencia, MUEGGE Group, German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research, Stellantis, Juno Composites Ltd, Fraunhofer IFAM, Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, EireComposites, and other leading experts in the field.

    For more information or to join the HEATShift Cluster, visit: https://lnkd.in/dQiePCF5

  • CARBOWAVE Reaches 12-Month Milestone at 3rd European Consortium Meeting

    CARBOWAVE Reaches 12-Month Milestone at 3rd European Consortium Meeting

    CARBOWAVE partners align on next-phase innovation in microwave-assisted carbon fiber production

    Date: 2 December 2025
    Category: Project News | Consortium Meeting
    Location: Online (Europe-wide)

    The CARBOWAVE consortium held its 3rd online project meeting on 2 December 2025, bringing together partners from across Europe to mark 12 months of collaborative progress and to plan the next phase of research and innovation.

    The meeting served as a strategic milestone, allowing consortium members to review technical achievements, assess ongoing research activities, and strengthen coordination across work packages. Discussions focused on advancing microwave-assisted carbon fibre production, a key technological pathway aimed at improving energy efficiency and reducing the environmental footprint of advanced material manufacturing.

    Looking ahead, partners agreed on several priority actions, including the scaling and validation of research results, enhanced digital communication and stakeholder engagement, and the development of impact-driven dissemination materials to strengthen the project’s visibility across European sustainability and innovation communities.

    The consortium also reaffirmed its commitment to collaboration, research excellence, and shared innovation, recognising the collective effort of all partners in driving the project forward during its first year.

    CARBOWAVE brings together leading academic institutions, research centres, and industry partners, including the University of Valencia, DITF – German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research, Fraunhofer IFAM, University of Limerick, Bernal Institute, Juno Composites, Stellantis, EireComposites, and MUEGGE Group, working together to accelerate sustainable solutions for advanced materials and clean industrial processes.

    As CARBOWAVE enters its next project phase, the consortium remains focused on delivering innovative, low-carbon manufacturing solutions that contribute to Europe’s sustainability, climate, and industrial transformation goals.

  • CARBOWAVE Consortium Meets in Valencia to Advance Cost-Effective and Novel Composite Manufacturing

    CARBOWAVE Consortium Meets in Valencia to Advance Cost-Effective and Novel Composite Manufacturing

    Driving Novel Approaches in Composite Manufacturing

    Valencia, Spain | July 22–23, 2025 — The CARBOWAVE Project held its successful 2nd Consortium Meeting in Valencia, Spain, hosted by the University of Valencia (UVEG) at the picturesque Jardí Botànic de la Universitat de València. The two-day event marked an important step forward in the project’s mission to develop cost-effective, innovative composite materials using advanced microwave-based processing technologies.
    Driving Novel Approaches in Composite Manufacturing

    Partners from across Europe gathered to assess technical progress and set direction for the next project phase. CARBOWAVE is focused on delivering low-cost, high-performance composite solutions through novel, rapid, and energy-efficient microwave processing, targeting key industrial sectors including automotive, aerospace, and construction.

    During the meeting, consortium members presented advancements across several work packages:

    • ⚙️ Advanced Material Development
    • 🔥 Microwave Heating Treatments and Functional Coatings
    • 📢 Dissemination, Communication, and Impact Pathways
    • 📊 Project Coordination and Risk Management

    The in-person gathering enabled strategic discussions, hands-on collaboration, and alignment around CARBOWAVE’s innovation and manufacturing goals under the Horizon Europe framework.

    CARBOWAVE is powered by a strong network of academic, research, and industrial leaders working together to revolutionize composite manufacturing using microwave-enabled technologies. Project partners include:

    • Bernal Institute, University of Limerick (Project Coordinator)
    • German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research (DITF)
    • Universidad de Valencia (UVEG)
    • Marilena Radoiu, MUEGGE Group
    • Centro Ricerche Fiat (CRF)
    • Juno Composites Ltd
    • ÉireComposites Teo
    • Fraunhofer IFAM

    Together, they are shaping the future of affordable and innovative material solutions in Europe and beyond.

  • CARBOWAVE Leads the Charge at EU Clustering Event on Sustainable Industrial Energy

    CARBOWAVE Leads the Charge at EU Clustering Event on Sustainable Industrial Energy

    Project showcases groundbreaking microwave and plasma heating technologies for low-emission carbon fibre production at CINEA-hosted industry event in Brussels.

    Brussels, Belgium – The CARBOWAVE project took centre stage at the 1st Clustering Event on Efficient, Sustainable Energy Use in Industry: Unlocking Potential in Heat Conversion and Storage, organised by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA).
    Representing the CARBOWAVE consortium, Anne Beaucamp Mc Loughlin delivered an impactful presentation highlighting the project’s innovative approach to reducing the energy footprint of composite manufacturing. CARBOWAVE aims to revolutionise carbon fibre production by integrating microwave and plasma heating technologies, offering a more energy-efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable alternative to conventional methods.
    The event brought together a diverse array of EU-funded research and innovation projects, each focused on accelerating the clean-energy transition in industry through advanced materials and clean-tech solutions. With growing emphasis on reducing industrial emissions and boosting energy efficiency, the event provided a vital platform for knowledge exchange and cross-project collaboration.
    CARBOWAVE’s participation underscored the project’s commitment to supporting the European Green Deal and advancing climate-resilient, energy-efficient industrial practices.
    The presentation attracted significant interest from fellow researchers, policymakers, and industrial stakeholders, highlighting CARBOWAVE’s potential to play a central role in Europe’s green and digital transformation.

  • CARBOWAVE: Microwave Technology Emerges as Breakthrough Solution for Sustainable Carbon Fibre Production.

    CARBOWAVE: Microwave Technology Emerges as Breakthrough Solution for Sustainable Carbon Fibre Production.

    At the recent JICI Conference, Natalia Cárdenas Vargas, a researcher specialising in advanced materials, presented new findings that could transform the manufacture of carbon fibre. In a paper entitled “Carbon-Based Suspensions for the Efficient Conversion of Polyacrylonitrile into Carbon Fibres via Microwave Heating,” Ms Cárdenas Vargas described how microwave-assisted processing, combined with carefully formulated carbon‐based suspensions, can accelerate and simplify the conversion of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) into high-performance carbon fibres.

    Carbon fibre is prized in aerospace, automotive and renewable-energy applications for its strength-to-weight ratio, yet its conventional production is slow, energy-intensive and costly. By applying microwave heating, Ms Cárdenas Vargas and her colleagues have demonstrated a markedly faster and more energy-efficient route that also lowers environmental impact. Their method promises to reduce processing times, curb emissions and lessen reliance on fossil-based feedstocks, thereby advancing the development of lightweight materials essential to modern engineering.

    The work aligns with the broader ambitions of European initiatives such as CARBOWAVE, which seek to deploy microwave and plasma technologies to cut energy consumption and emissions throughout the composites sector. Taken together, these efforts point to a future in which advanced materials can be produced at scale without sacrificing sustainability.

    Industry observers will watch closely as the research moves from laboratory demonstrations to larger-scale trials—an important step towards making low-carbon, high-performance composites a mainstream reality.

  • CARBOWAVE: Prof Mario Culebras  Shares the Vision and How It Works

    CARBOWAVE: Prof Mario Culebras  Shares the Vision and How It Works

    Introducing CARBOWAVE

    “Transforming Carbon Fibre Production with Science, Innovation, and Sustainability”

    In an interview with Parc Científic, Mario Culebras discussed the Carbowave project—an innovative Horizon Europe initiative aimed at revolutionizing carbon fibre production through advanced microwave heating technology. Traditional PAN (polyacrylonitrile) fibres exhibit low microwave absorption; however, the Carbowave project has developed cutting-edge nanostructured coatings that utilize susceptor-induced microheating to overcome this challenge.
    This breakthrough enables a more efficient and continuous carbon fibre conversion process, significantly reducing both environmental impact and production costs by up to 70%. The project has already achieved proof of concept, with promising results published in Advanced Hybrid and Composite Materials. It is now progressing toward scaling the technology to higher Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs).
    Carbowave unites a strong consortium of nine partners: five industry leaders, two research centres, and two universities. Together, they are working to deliver a greener, more cost-effective future for carbon fibre manufacturing.

  • CARBOWAVE: Revolutionizing Carbon Fiber with Sustainable Energy Solutions

    CARBOWAVE: Revolutionizing Carbon Fiber with Sustainable Energy Solutions

    “CARBOWAVE: Sustainable & Cost-Effective Carbon Fiber Production with Energy-Efficient Technology”

    Europe’s reliance on energy-intensive processes has long been a barrier to achieving sustainability. “CARBOWAVE addresses this challenge and is an exciting project that offers the potential to produce more sustainable and cheaper carbon fibre.”

    UL’s Professor Maurice N. Collins explains how recent UL research is set to revolutionise the carbon fibre industry by using more energy-efficient heating methods, making the process greener and less expensive.

  • CarboWave Project Kicks Off in Limerick

    CarboWave Project Kicks Off in Limerick

    CarboWave Project Kicks Off in Limerick

    CarboWave Kick-off Meeting took place in Limerick, bringing together leading experts, researchers, and stakeholders committed to pioneering carbon reduction solutions. This inaugural event marked the official launch of the CarboWave project, an ambitious initiative dedicated to developing a new heating technology for carbon fibre production.

    The meeting gathered representatives from various partner organizations, including industry leaders, academic institutions, and policymakers. Discussions focused on the project’s objectives, key milestones, and collaborative efforts to drive impactful change in carbon fibre manufacturing. Attendees explored innovative approaches in microwave heating integration for the carbon fibre industry, which are expected to shape the project’s direction in the coming years.

    The successful kick-off meeting in Limerick sets a strong foundation for the CarboWave initiative, promising groundbreaking developments in the carbon fibre production process with tremendous energy savings. Stay tuned for further updates as the project progresses toward its ambitious sustainability goals.