Renewable energy from solar plants in the salt flats of Chiayi County was officially provided to TSMC in early May 2020, making TSMC one of the first companies in Taiwan to purchase retransmitted renewable energy. (Photo credit: Vena Energy Taiwan)
TSMC continues to sign the long-term power purchasing contracts with onshore wind farms. (Photo credit: Chungwei Wind Power Co., Ltd.)
TSMC continues to sign long-term power purchasing contracts with offshore wind farms. (Photo credit: Ørsted)

TSMC Becomes the World’s First Semiconductor Company to Join RE100, Committed to 100% Renewable Energy Usage

Expanding Green Power Usage with Power Purchasing Agreements for Renewable Energy Totaling 1.2 GW
Philos Lin
Larry Sun

With a vision of pursuing growth and mutual prosperity between industry and the environment, TSMC continues to expand its usage of renewable energy after supplying 100% of the power consumed at all its overseas sites from renewable energy. TSMC’s sustainable goal for 2030 is to supply 25% of power consumed by its fabrication plants from renewable energy, and 100% for other facilities power consumption. In July 2020, TSMC’s power purchasing agreements for renewable energy totaled , and the Company also officially passed the qualification to become the world’s first semiconductor company to join the . TSMC has committed to 100% renewable energy and zero indirect carbon emissions from electricity consumption by 2050 as the Company is taking tangible action to lower its environmental impact.

Use of Renewable Energy and Percentage

TSMC Actively Purchases Renewable Energy; Power Purchasing Agreements for Renewable Energy Total 1.2 GW

The highest governing body of TSMC - the Board of Directors - supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The selected focuses of affordable and clean energy, responsible consumption and production, and climate action are highly related to renewable energy; TSMC tracks renewable energy purchasing issues, and the Corporate Social Responsibility Executive Committee is required to provide annual updates on renewable energy purchase strategies and progress to the Board of Directors.

TSMC participated in the R.O.C. Ministry of Economic Affairs’ voluntary “green power purchasing program” from 2015 to 2017, buying a total of 400 GWh in clean energy to become Taiwan’s largest purchaser of clean energy for the three consecutive years. Following Taiwan’s power liberalization in 2017, TSMC set up a Renewable Energy Task Force which purchases green power from domestic renewable energy companies, and cooperates with the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Bureau of Energy, the Bureau of Standards, Taipower, and the Allied Association for Science Parks to jointly discuss and resolve the difference between regulations and actual operations, providing execution details for retransmitting renewable energy in the future. Renewable energy from solar plants in the salt flats of Chiayi County was officially provided to TSMC in early May 2020, making TSMC one of the first companies in Taiwan to purchase retransmitted renewable energy. Meanwhile, the Company continues to sign long-term power purchasing contracts with offshore and onshore wind farms. As of July 2020, TSMC has signed renewable energy purchase agreements bringing the Company’s total renewable energy capacity to 1.2GW, eliminating 2.189 million metric tons of carbon emissions per year and moving towards its sustainable goal of using 100% renewable energy.

TSMC Renewable Energy Development Timeline

Acting as a Responsible Purchaser and Setting TSMC Renewable Energy Certificate Standards

To verify the Company’s renewable energy is free of environmental impact, TSMC follows international practice and requires renewable energy providers to provide to comply with our renewable energy certificate standards and ensure that our electricity sources are transparent with clear accountability.

As companies pursue growth, they also must take environmentally friendly action. TSMC is taking tangible action to drive green manufacturing, lower the impact of climate change, and has committed to using 100% renewable energy by the end of 2050. As the World’s first semiconductor company to join RE100, TSMC hopes to call the industry to action and push sustainability forward together, answering the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and work hand in hand to overcome the difficult challenges that humanity faces.

- Dr. Mark Liu, Chairman of TSMC and Chairperson of the Company’s Corporate Social Responsibility Executive Committee

TSMC Joins RE100 to Commit 100% Renewable Energy Usage

Committed to its green mission of strengthening environmental protection, TSMC became the first semiconductor company to join RE100 in July 2020 and pledged that power consumption of all the Company’s manufacturing plants and offices will be 100% supplied from renewable energy by 2050. By actively purchasing renewable energy, TSMC expects to drive the industry towards renewable energy and promote the development of the responsible green power industry, aiming to unleash innovation in advanced technologies while at the same time realize a beautiful sustainable future.