In response to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7, TSMC is committed to energy efficiency enhancement. In addition to developing high-efficient fans to enhance the operation of cooling towers, TSMC has collaborated with suppliers to upgrade the power transformers in its facilities. While ensuring stable power supply, TSMC has successfully increased the operating efficiency from 98.3% to 99%. As of May 2024, 2,435 high-efficiency transformers have been introduced into 12 advanced process fabs and one advanced packaging fab, saving 66 million kWh of electricity and reducing carbon emissions by 32,000 metric tons. TSMC continues to practice sustainable values through green manufacturing.
Reduce Energy Loss and Further Improve Operational Efficiency
A transformer is comprised of iron cores and two independent winding coils that are used to regulate voltage to meet the various power consumption requirements of different devices. During operation, it inevitably generates a certain degree of energy loss, including "iron losses" caused by changes in magnetic flux in the core, and "copper losses" caused by the current passing through the copper wire. Due to the increased demand for transformers resulting from advancements in manufacturing processes, TSMC collaborates with suppliers to improve transformer performance and efficiency. The iron core material is made of high-permeability, cold-rolled, and oriented silicon steel sheets, which increase the amount of silicon steel used to reduce magnetic flux density and thereby decrease hysteresis and eddy current losses. At the same time, high-conductivity materials are used to make the coils, reducing conductor resistance and current density and lowering the impedance losses of the primary and secondary windings, thereby reducing the proportion of iron and copper losses.
TSMC actively implements energy-saving measures to strengthen TSMC's operational resilience, striving for maximum achievement. In the second quarter of 2024, the Company completed first phase of high-efficiency transformer installation at Fab 20, which can save six million kWh of electricity annually and also serve as the standard design for new factories, deepening green operations and moving towards sustainable development goals.
Share