Edmonton opens first of its kind carbon fibre production facility

Alberta scientists have developed a new way to upgrade oilsands and the resulting product could one day end up in the hands of hockey players at the local rink.

A carbon fibre production facility — the first of its kind in Canada — is now open in Edmonton, and it uses bitumen from the Alberta oilsands.

“An entirely new manufacturing sector could be born serving both existing and entirely new markets for this low cost, low emissions carbon fibre,” Bryan Helfenbaum, a vice-president at Aberta Innovates, said Friday.

“This would have a meaningful impact on both GDP and emissions at the same time.”

Comprised of thin strands of carbon atoms, carbon fibre is known for its light weight and strong textile strength, which has made it popular for high-performance products throughout the world.