Climate Change Countermeasures
A large amount of energy is constantly used for air conditioning management, operation of manufacturing equipment and producing testing in the manufacturing processes of semiconductor products and HDD products. PFC (perfluoro compound) gas is used in the etching process of semiconductor manufacturing, and CFC (chlorofluorocarbon) refrigerants such as HFC (hydrofluorocarbon) are used in cooling equipment such as air conditioning systems. Some of these gases also lead to climate change that is thousands of times more severe than CO2.
Our corporate group has therefore launched a project that crosses over corporate organizations in 2004, to reduce greenhouse gases with emphasis on “efficient manufacturing”. We consider facilities with greater energy saving effects and refrigerant equipment with low greenhouse effects when upgrading facilities. At present, a large amount of energy is consumed to operate clean rooms and there are a large number of similar facilities in each process. An understanding and awareness of the process will lead to a significant reduction in the use of energy and gas.
Example (CO2 Reduction Measures): Introduction of Renewable Energy (On-site PPA* Model)
Japan Semiconductor Corporation Oita-Operations (Oita Prefecture)
Japan Semiconductor Corporation Oita-Operations introduced the on-site PPA model in April 2024. This solar power generation facility is the largest solar cell module installed within the premises of Toshiba Device & Storage Group's business site. The expected power generation is approximately 5.83 million kWh per year, all of which will be consumed by the same business site.
Kaga Toshiba Electronics Corporation (Ishikawa Prefecture)
Kaga Toshiba Electronics Corporation has installed a solar power generation facility on the roof of its new manufacturing building for 300mm wafer-compatible power semiconductors and introduced the on-site PPA model. The expected power generation of this newly installed solar power facility is approximately 1,078 MWh per year.
*: PPA stands for Power Purchase Agreement. It is a contract where the electricity consumer purchases 100% renewable energy directly from the power producer. The on-site PPA model involves installing power generation facilities using the consumer's premises or rooftop space.
Example (CO2 reduction measure): Reduction of steam loss by decentralized installation of boilers
Japan Semiconductor Corporation Oita Operations
At the Oita Operations, steam was supplied to the entire area from a single water pipe boiler, and the steam transfer piping between buildings was long, resulting in heat dissipation loss. By installing highly efficient small once-through boilers in a decentralized manner, the transfer was abolished, leading to a reduction in city gas consumption and improvement in energy loss.
Amount of CO2 reduction: 857t-CO2/year