Climate Change

Water-Energy Efficiencies: The Catalyst to Semiconductor Sustainability

–Eric Lai, Senior Regional Sales Director for Industry APAC Fuelled by the explosive growth of emerging markets like AI and electric vehicles, the semiconductor industry – which manufactures the essential materials that power these technologies – is poised to grow into a massive trillion-dollar industry by 2030[1]. At the very heart of this growth lies Southeast Asia, as markets in the region actively pursue opportunities to capture higher value-add positions within the burgeoning global industry. In fact, Singapore’s Minister of State of Trade and Industry called for efforts for the state to sharpen its competitive edge in the semiconductor industry as it aims to double its manufacturing sector’s value by 2030[2]. However, despite the semiconductor industry’s immense potential for economic growth, its notorious thirst for water and energy stand at direct odds with Southeast Asia’s climate ambitions, wherein most countries across the region have committed to carbon neutrality by 2050. How can the growth of semiconductor manufacturing be reconciled with these climate targets to achieve balanced and sustainable long-term development? The Water-Energy Nexus in Semiconductor Manufacturing Intensifying climate events around the globe have brought the semiconductor industry’s immense resource consumption to the fore. Growing concerns about global water shortages have placed the sector’s water usage under scrutiny, while its substantial electricity consumption remains a focal point of concern. However, discussions about these resources tend to occur in silos, with limited focus on the water-energy nexus – which refers to the interdependent relationship between both resources. For instance, considerable energy is required to treat and move water in semiconductor fabrication plants (fabs); conversely, water is critical for the energy generation processes that power these facilities. To truly drive sustainability in this sector, there needs to be a concerted effort to move beyond traditional energy reduction to target the energy-intensive water processes […]

Seven Companies Announce to Conduct Engineering Design Work for Japanese Advanced CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) Project

ITOCHU Corporation, Nippon Steel Corporation, Taiheiyo Cement Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., INPEX CORPORATION, Taisei Corporation, and ITOCHU Oil Exploration Co., Ltd. have been selected by the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (hereinafter “JOGMEC”) to conduct “Engineering Design Work for Japanese Advanced CCS Projects” (hereinafter “Work”), a public offered project.(1) CCS is positioned as a means for decarbonisation that should be fully harnessed, particularly in hard-to-abate industries(Note2), to achieve two targets set by the Japanese government: carbon neutrality in 2050 and a 46% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (from FY2013 level) in FY2030. To expedite social implementation of CCS, JOGMEC issued a public call for advanced CCS projects in 2023 with the goal of achieving the successful underground storage of domestically-emitted carbon dioxide (CO2) by FY2030. And the Initiative was selected as one of the first advanced CCS projects in Japan to be eligible for governmental support. The Initiative involves the concept of using ships to transport CO2 separated and captured at the Nippon Steel’s Kyushu Works Oita Area and the Kawasaki Plant of DC CO., Ltd., a Taiheiyo Cement Group company, to candidate storage sites. In FY2023, a feasibility study was conducted relating to the CO2 separation, capture, transportation and storage, which included identifying technical issues in the overall project as well as studies on economic viability and public acceptance.(3) The Work selected this time includes Front End Engineering Design (FEED) work relating to the separation, capture, ship transportation and storage of CO2 and appraisal drilling, as the next phase of the project.(4) Based on the results of the feasibility study mentioned above, basic engineering design work will be carried out from the perspectives of both technical and economic viability for each element of the value chain with the goal of starting operations by FY2030. The seven […]

Energy Struggles Highlight Need for AI-based Solutions for Buildings in Asia

Recent studies conducted in South Korea and Hong Kong reveal that current energy efficiency measures for buildings are not sustainable. AI experts provide a solution with a 10x faster payback period than building renovation. As cities strive to meet carbon neutrality goals by 2050, energy efficiency in high-density urban centers located in Asia has become critical. Recent studies conducted in Hong Kong and South Korea highlight major challenges, ranging from regulatory to financial issues. “High-density urban centers are at the forefront of sustainability and our fight against climate change, yet they face significant hurdles in achieving energy efficiency. We need to put more focus on energy performance management in Asia if we want to reach net-zero goals in as little as 30 years,” said Donatas Karčiauskas, CEO of Exergio, a company that provides AI-based solutions for energy management in commercial buildings. A comprehensive analysis of 36 office building retrofits in Hong Kong identified 23 major challenges, including inadequate government incentives and long payback periods. Regulatory hurdles emerged as the primary barriers, followed closely by financial concerns. In South Korea, the effectiveness of the Building Energy Efficiency Certification (BEEC) system has been questioned. The study indicates that current certification levels might not reflect true energy efficiency, revealing significant energy consumption discrepancies in office buildings and educational facilities. “When traditional retrofitting is not feasible, AI-based energy performance tools offer a viable alternative,” stated Karčiauskas. “First of all, AI-driven platforms are easier to implement and their payback periods are up to 10 times faster, on average 2 years instead of 10. AI energy performance tools also provide real-time data and actionable insights to reduce energy consumption and emissions.” In previous projects conducted in various countries across Europe, Exergio’s AI platform reduced energy waste by up to 20% in office buildings. These numbers are […]

“Engineered for Good” purpose-driven brand message for Southeast Asia

Global technology leader, Epson, has unveiled its revitalised brand message, “Engineered for Good” in Southeast Asia. This pivotal shift underscores Epson’s commitment to marry innovation with purpose by co-creating cutting-edge technology solutions that contribute towards a sustainable future. In an era where brands are distinguished by their values and aspirations, Epson redefines its identity to champion sustainability and meaningful innovation. The shift from its former brand message “It’s In the Details” heralds a new purpose for Epson to go beyond product excellence and leverage on technology as a way to enrich communities. Epson’s corporate philosophy of ‘sho-sho-sei’ – or, ‘efficient, compact, and precise’ in Japanese – also aligns with this new brand message. “The actions of individuals and businesses, no matter how small, will play an important part in helping Southeast Asia achieve a sustainable future. Epson recognises that sustainability is a foundational element of responsible business practices. Hence, it is important that we communicate and advocate the use of Epson’s eco-efficient technology which helps reduce energy consumption, enhance productivity, and minimise the overall environmental impact of every Epson product,” shares Tan May Lin, Regional Director of Brand and Communications, Epson Southeast Asia. “Our ‘Engineered for Good’ brand campaign reflects Epson’s unique philosophy of delivering efficient, compact and precise innovations. By further embracing innovation, we aim to combat global environmental challenges and societal issues, to enrich people’s lives and contribute to a better world.” This brand shift also builds on Epson’s momentum towards its Environmental Vision 2050, which stipulates a goal to become carbon negative and underground resource-free by 2050. At the end of 2023, Epson Southeast Asia adopted 100% renewable energy at all major sites and factories worldwide. Specifically in Southeast Asia, Epson also completely phased out laser printers at the end of 2023, due to laser technology’s limited […]

Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners inaugurates Changfang-Xidao offshore wind farms in Taiwan

The Changfang-Xidao project is Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners’ (CIP) first offshore wind farms in Asia Pacific. Taipei, Taiwan and Copenhagen, Denmark: At a ceremony in Taipei, Taiwan, CIP today officially celebrated that it has completed construction of the Changfang-Xidao offshore wind project. With a total capacity of nearly 600 MW, the two offshore wind farms increase Taiwan’s combined offshore capacity by approximately 25% and contribute significantly to its energy transition and ambitious net-zero goals. Changfang-Xidao has one of the highest degrees of localisation, i.e. use of local suppliers and vendors, in the history of Taiwan’s offshore wind industry. The wind farms are located 11 km off the west coast of Taiwan and consist of 62 Vestas V174 turbines and jacket foundations supplied by Taiwan’s Century Wind Power. When fully operational, Changfang-Xidao will generate enough renewable energy to power around 650,000 local households and will deliver an annual expected CO2 reduction of 1.1 million tons. Changfang-Xidao are CIP’s first offshore wind farms in Asia Pacific, which has developed into a key offshore market. CIP has a significant portfolio of 21 GW offshore wind in the Asia Pacific and is among the frontrunners in the build-out of offshore wind in Korea and Australia, as well as Taiwan. Christina Grumstrup Sørensen, Senior Partner at CIP, says: “The inauguration of Changfang-Xidao is a landmark for CIP as well as for the offshore wind industry in Taiwan. In the past seven years, the development and construction team, suppliers, partners and shareholders have demonstrated the power of close collaboration. Together we have successfully constructed a project that makes a meaningful contribution to Taiwan’s energy transition and that plays a significant role in the establishment of the local offshore wind industry – and will support Taiwan’s long-term offshore wind ambitions.” Mads Skovgaard Andersen, Partner at CIP, commented: “I […]

REDEX to partner TNBX to support Malaysia Green Attribute Trading System platform

REDEX will be an exclusive partner to TNBX to support the development of the Malaysia Green Attribute Trading System (mGATS) into the country’s preeminent digital trading platform for Malaysia Renewable Energy Certificates (mREC). The upgraded platform will provide a new avenue for businesses to conveniently pursue their renewable energy commitments and accelerate the nation’s pursuit of a sustainable energy future. Launched five years ago as an information hub on RECs, the revamped mGATS will leverage REDEX’s innovative technological solutions to facilitate live trading and auctions while providing users with price transparency for mRECs acquisition. REDEX Founder and CEO Kang Jen Wee said, “REDEX is honoured to be chosen by TNBX as a partner for the development of mGATS into a premier digital trading platform for the Malaysian market. We are excited to be part of the country’s journey to create a sustainable future for current and future generations. “This collaboration also deepens our presence in Malaysia and highlights our innovative technological solutions to the wider REC industry. It also paves the way for deploying such similar proven solutions in other countries. Utilising our expertise and experience, REDEX will work closely with TNBX to enable more renewable electricity certification in Malaysia.” A wholly-owned subsidiary of Malaysia’s leading utility company Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), TNBX is the premier one-stop mREC solutions provider for Malaysian consumers and businesses. TNBX Managing Director, Ir. Mohd Razif Abd Halim said, “The revamped mGATS is a significant step forward in Malaysia’s journey towards low carbon energy future. In line with the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), this initiative will promote renewable energy and bolster the country’s ambition to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. “We are pleased to have REDEX, an experienced REC solution provider as our exclusive partner and we look forward to working with […]

Clearing Misconceptions and Achieving Sustainable Development Goals with Automation in Logistics

The United Nations developed 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the assault of a series of problem seen globally. The problems—ranging from ending poverty and improving health, to improving education and economic growth, aim to be tackled while fighting climate change. When looking at climate change, one significant contributor to global emissions is the logistics industry. According to reports, the transport and logistics sector accounts to about a quarter (24%) of all global carbon emissions. The alarmingly high value is only set to increase, with the European Environmental Agency predicting that global logistics will cause 40% of global carbon emissions come 2050, if no measures are put in place. In working towards achieving the SDGs set by the UN, automation might not be the first ally many in the logistics sector would think of when “going green”. The Misconception of Automation Big, power-hungry industrial robots are what most would associate industrial automation with. Those robots unsurprisingly consume loads of energy, thus not aiding the logistics sector with achieving their SDGs. However, recent developments in automation have allowed for sustainable solutions to be used within the sector. Take AutoStore’s R5 robot for example. These little robots are busy workers aiding human workers with storage and retrieval within warehouses. Despite this, ten of these robots use approximately the same amount of energy as a single vacuum cleaner operating for the same amount of time. Other innovations within the space allow these robots to not only recharge themselves at the right time to avoid excessive charging, but also have regenerative energy functions to recharge their batteries whenever they store/retrieve or reduce speed. In totality, they only consume 100 Watts of energy during operation, allowing businesses within the logistics sector to reduce their […]

TKE Zhongshan Solar System

TK Elevator has achieved another significant ESG milestone in the Asia Pacific region with the installation of a large-scale solar panel system on the rooftop of their manufacturing facility in Zhongshan, China. Operational since November 2022, this solar energy system comprises 5,834 panels, generating a total of 3,200 MWh of electricity annually. This translates to a reduction of 2,008 tons of carbon emissions per year. As of February 2023, energy generated by the system supplied over 40% of the facility’s total monthly energy consumption, effectively lowering the carbon footprint of our escalator and elevator production in the Asia Pacific region. TK Elevator’s commitment to reducing its production carbon footprint continues with the planned introduction of a solar energy system at its Songjiang manufacturing facility in China in September 2024. At its initial stage, this system is expected to generate 1,792 MWh per year, accounting for approximately 30% of our Songjiang facility’s total energy consumption. The company is dedicated to continuously improving its environmental performance, and strives to minimise the carbon emissions associated with each TKE mobility unit, enabling our customers and passengers to enjoy safe, reliable, and sustainable mobility options.

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