{"id":8241,"date":"2023-02-23T11:11:31","date_gmt":"2023-02-23T03:11:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/incit.org\/?p=8241"},"modified":"2025-06-13T23:25:00","modified_gmt":"2025-06-13T15:25:00","slug":"impact-of-energy-efficiency-and-innovation-in-electronics-manufacturing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/incit.org\/en_ca\/thought-leadership\/impact-of-energy-efficiency-and-innovation-in-electronics-manufacturing\/","title":{"rendered":"Impact of energy efficiency and innovation in electronics manufacturing"},"content":{"rendered":"

From industrial electronics to personal mobile devices, the electronics industry has had a significant impact on how society functions, and this continues even today. However, the growth of the electronics industry has led to severe environmental issues, with 4% of global greenhouse gas<\/u><\/a>\u00a0(GHG) emissions attributed to it. Given global electricity demand is expected to rise by 30% by 2030<\/u><\/a>, it is critical for the electronics industry to achieve better energy efficiency for greater sustainability.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Innovations and new processes help increase efficiency and reduce emissions<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Newer, more power-hungry technologies like artificial intelligence have gained widespread use in recent years. This is driving the growth of the global electronics sector, which is projected to grow to US$3 trillion by 2030<\/u>. With our reliance on and increasing use of electronics, it is paramount that the electronics industry adopts and develops new innovations and processes to reduce GHG emissions. But how can this be achieved?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Maximise efficiency by reducing idle time<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Sophisticated software can now enable us to access and analyse comprehensive data to optimise workflows and processes. This can lead to reduced manufacturing bottlenecks<\/u><\/a>\u00a0and improved processing speed, resulting in shorter machine idle times and less power wasted.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Use Internet of Things (IoT) and data solutions to track materials<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Using IoT enables material tracking<\/u><\/a>\u00a0and predictive maintenance, which allows for improved logistics management and component longevity. For instance, components in chip manufacturing are delicate and prone to damage if they are not assembled in time. Leveraging IoT with tools like RFID tagging helps increase assembly efficiency by ensuring parts are used in a timely manner, reducing damage and waste. Smart technology can also detect and scan machinery and materials to determine if components require replacement or repairs ahead of time, boosting time and cost savings<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Use of more efficient materials and wide-bandgap semiconductors<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

By using silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) instead of traditional silicon, manufacturers can expect better energy efficiency while reducing heat and power dissipation. While these materials are currently more expensive, they are expected to reach a competitive price point in the near future<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Increasing energy efficiency in semiconductor manufacturing<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Semiconductor manufacturing requires a tremendous amount of energy, especially with extreme ultraviolet lithography systems (EUVs) consuming about 10 times more energy<\/u><\/a>\u00a0than older generations of equipment. Recognising this fact, several countries known for advanced chip manufacturing have taken steps towards gradually reducing consumption.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n