The electronics industry accounts for 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to market and consultancy firm IDTechEx.
With the rising urgency around climate change, the semiconductor and electronics industry must adopt a making-without-taking approach and develop new or alternative techniques, strategies and technologies to preserve nature and its resources.
The actions that governments take now can set the world on a path to a more sustainable future. While the EU’s commitment to sustainability and circular economy goals is commendable, questions persist about its ability to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
The pursuit of net zero can only truly begin with a collaborative approach.
Every player along the value chain must think creatively about sustainability challenges and solutions. How can we transform the semiconductor industry from a heavy carbon emitter to a minimal CO2-footprint contributor? How can AI be more environmentally friendly? How do we extend battery life with energy harvesting? What are the promises and challenges of quantum computing for energy storage? Are zinc-based batteries a better alternative to lithium-ion batteries? What is the hydrogen economy? What is the EU regulation on green hydrogen?
In this Special Report, we explore the latest developments in research, innovation, policy and industry initiatives. It draws on discussions with IBM Research Europe, NeuReality, Astrape Networks, Flexciton, imec, Dracula Technologies, Lightricity and Planckian, as well as contributions by companies NeoLogic, Trameto, Enerpoly and IDTechEx; industry association SEMI; and law firms Hunton Andrews Kurth and EIP.
The climate crisis is a race the electronics industry can win.
Processing
Could IBM’s AI Chip Reinvent Deep Learning Inference?
By Rebecca Pool
A novel analog in-memory chip from IBM demonstrates that both performance and energy efficiency are possible for AI operations.
Server Processors in the AI Era: Can They Go Greener?
By Avi Messica and Ziv Leshem, NeoLogic
The more power-efficient they get, the more the data center’s workload pulls them back to a more distant starting point.
How to Make Generative AI Greener
NeuReality CEO Moshe Tanach said the key to reducing AI’s carbon emissions lies in streamlining operations and bolstering efficiency.
Astrape Networks: Greening the Data Center
By Rebecca Pool
In a move that could slash the energy consumed by data centers while overcoming bandwidth bottlenecks, Netherlands-based Astrape Networks has won €1.6 million in pre-seed funding to scale up its integrated photonics switching technology.
Semiconductor manufacturing
Tapping AI for Leaner, Greener Semiconductor Fab Operations
Startup Flexciton has created an AI-powered platform to optimize semiconductor fab scheduling.
Finding and Adopting Low-Carbon Energy to Make Chips
By Mousumi Bhat and Heidi Hoffman, SEMI
Accelerating the transition to low-carbon energy alternatives will be necessary if the energy consumed by semiconductors continues to rise.
Imec’s Virtual Fab Goes Public to Speed IC Manufacturing Decarbonization
“The improvement in environmental impact needs to come together with the improvement in scaling,” imec’s Lars-Åke Ragnarsson said.
Energy Harvesting
What’s Happening in the World of Micro-Energy Harvesting?
By Huw Davies, Trameto
Micro-energy–harvesting systems are becoming more effective, more efficient and, crucially, cheaper to implement.
Ambient Light Harvesting Heads Indoors
EE Times Europe spoke to Dracula Technologies and Lightricity, two innovators of PV cells optimized for use in artificial and indoor-light environments.
Energy Storage
Quantum Batteries Promise Lightning-Fast Charging Speeds
By Rebecca Pool
Italian startup Planckian wins funds to build a quantum battery, raising prospects of instant recharging.
Unveiling Trends and Insights in Solid-State Battery Technology
With advantages like better safety and longer cycle life, SSBs are considered the “holy grail” of battery technologies.
Powering Europe’s Energy With Zinc-Ion Storage Solutions
To build a robust renewable energy system, Europe must integrate complementary storage solutions like zinc-ion batteries.
Hydrogen
Evaluating Hydrogen’s Role in Energy Storage Solutions
The utilization of hydrogen in energy storage, although still in its infancy, holds substantial promise for broader decarbonization efforts.
Green Energy Laws Changing the Energy Landscape in Europe
By Patricia Tiller, Hunton Andrews Kurth
With political negotiations underway for RED III, the European Council is aiming to achieve climate neutrality in the EU by 2050.
Filing Patents Is Important for Green Energy Development
Laurence Brown and Tim Belcher, EIP
Patents can enable companies to invest and collaborate while protecting their investment.