SPE SIGNED

Project "SPE" data sheet

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 Project objective

BJS Ceramics GmbH (BJS), Gersthofen, Germany, is Europe’s only Silicon Carbide (SiC) Fiber developer and producer in spe. SiC fibers are the key raw material for SiC Fiber reinforced Silicon Carbide (SiC/SiC) composites that are technically indispensable in turbines for aircraft and energy generation to reach a step-change in energy-efficiency due to their outstanding heat resistance (260°C higher than that of the nickel-based superalloys) and light weight. Only turbines with SiC/ SiC components meet the CO2-, NOx- and noise emission reduction targets established by the Advisory Council for Aviation Research in Europe (ACARE), respectively those established by the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) in the United States. Aviation contributes significantly to the global emissions of CO2 and NOx thereby aggravating the climate change. If the aviation sector was a country, it would rank 7th in the global ranking! Aviation is growing above average, expected to double by 2035. That is why emissions from aviation need a significant reduction. SiC Fibers respectively SiC/SiC composites are key to achieve these emission reductions, but the global supply chain for SiC fibers is fragile due to SiC fibers, their raw materials and SiC/SiC composites being dual use, and subject to export control. To-date, there are only 2 SiC fiber producers in Japan, 1 SiC fiber plant is under construction in the US in close cooperation with the US Air Force – leaving European turbine producers with a risky or no supply chain. In order for Europe to be independent in SiC Fibers and SiC/SiC composites, it is mandatory to build up a European SiC fiber production. BJS with its patented SiC fiber technology will reach TRL4/5 by end 2018. In 2019, the first European SiC fiber line in Bayreuth will start production. BJS will use this line to scale up its technology to commercial scale. For this scale up, BJS applies for EU funding under the Horizons 2020 / SME Instruments framework.