Veolia offers solutions to meet semiconductor industry's needs for sustainability
Published on by Water Network Research, Official research team of The Water Network in Case Studies
As many countries are building up their semiconductor supply chains, Veolia Water Technologies, a global leader specializing in water treatment technologies and services, is seeing opportunities in the industry's need for water and energy efficiency while required to meet individual companies' carbon-neutral targets.
Behind every microchip lies a complex manufacturing process, heavily reliant on Ultra-Pure Water (UPW) and stringent environmental controls. Water, waste, and energy management demands of semiconductor production, call for specialized expertise tailored for fabs in different geographies and climate conditions. What are Veolia's solutions for the highly complex semiconductor supply chain?
Justin Wang, Country Director for Taiwan at Veolia Water Technologies, shared with DIGITIMES Asia its expertise and experiences supporting Taiwan's semiconductor industry with innovative technologies in water reclamation and reuse to bolster the sustainability initiatives of semiconductor companies.
Recently Veolia just released its 2024-2027 Strategy Program, aiming to have 18 million tons of CO2 erased in 2027 (scope 4) & an emission reduction trajectory compatible with 1.5°C warming (scope 1&2),1.5 billion cubic meters of water saved by 2027, and 10 million tons of hazardous waste and pollutants treated in 2027.
Q: What specific expertise does Veolia have that is relevant to the semiconductor industry?
Veolia brings specialized expertise to meet the semiconductor industry's stringent water treatment needs. Leveraging our understanding of semiconductor requirements, we design systems to prevent production downtime, mitigating costly interruptions for manufacturers.
With a focus on advanced water treatment technologies and regulatory compliance, we tailor Ultra-Pure Water (UPW) systems to align with the chipmakers' requirements to push the boundaries into single-digit nanometer line widths, maximum resistivity, and control contaminants (e.g. particles, Total Organic Carbon [TOC], silicon dioxide, and boron) at parts per trillion levels.
Our solutions also prioritize water reclamation, adhering to the Water Efficiency Index (WEI) requirement, minimizing water usage by recycling wastewater, and ensuring compliance with discharge regulations, including the potential achievement of Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) goals.
Q: Can you provide an overview of Veolia Water Technologies' experience working with industries similar to the semiconductor sector?
Veolia Water Technologies brings a wealth of experience to diverse industries across the globe, including electronics manufacturing, chemical processing, oil and gas, hydrocarbon processing, and power industries. Our proven solutions facilitate seamless operations, efficient water management, and climate-change resilience. Moreover, we excel in municipal water treatment, ensuring safe water and resilient infrastructure for healthy communities, and pioneering efforts in water reuse and reclamation to bolster sustainability initiatives.
Q: How does Veolia incorporate sustainability and environmental considerations into its solutions for the semiconductor industry? Could you give some examples?
In Southeast Asia, we optimized a plant's configuration, through enhancements like our unique Rapide Strata Reverse Osmosis (RSRO) system and other energy-efficient components, to achieve the same amount of permeate using approximately 27% less raw water.
Additionally, our innovative approach to organic wastewater treatment, utilizing Macro Porous Polymer Extraction (MPPE), meets regulatory standards and facilitates water reclamation and valuable solvent recovery. We also address specific regulatory requirements such as Taiwan's mandate for microelectronic manufacturers to reclaim 85% of process water, by exceeding standards with advanced reclamation technologies.
This commitment enables high levels of water recycling while ensuring compliance and minimizing environmental impact, aligning with Veolia's mission of resource preservation based on 170 years of experience.
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