SEMI Energy Collaborative Releases Analysis and Recommendations for Increasing Supply of Low Carbon Energy in South Korea

MILPITAS, Calif. – In an effort to help the global semiconductor value chain lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the industry association SEMI released today its first region-specific analysis of current and forecasted low-carbon energy (LCE) markets for South Korea. Developed by the SEMI Energy Collaborative (EC) and its sponsors, with insights from partner organizations and the South Korean government, the report highlights investments and policy changes required to increase supply of LCE.

Initial findings of the Semiconductor Climate Consortium (SCC), part of the SEMI Sustainability Initiative along with the EC, show that indirect emissions from electricity consumption account for 83% of total semiconductor value chain GHG emissions. Therefore, substantially scaling LCE investment and installation offers the most effective path to strengthening industry response to the threat of climate change. EC analysis of the South Korean LCE market projects that the industry will face a 15 to 30 TWh gap in meeting declared corporate targets for 2030. The gap may increase to 30 to 50 TWh if the sector aligns its decarbonization efforts with more rigorous targets set by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for emission pathways consistent with 1.5°C global warming.

The EC report series identifies how each region’s gap might be closed. Generally, for South Korea, the EC recommends:

• Expansion and improvement of corporate LCE procurement mechanisms
• Facilitating community collaboration in the project development process and the introduction of national guidelines on community benefit-sharing
• Accelerating measures to overcome grid bottlenecks such as the streamlining of regulatory processes for solar PV and wind.

The downloadable report provides the full analysis of the anticipated impact of these recommendations.

“The Energy Collaborative report series analyzes the roadblocks impeding our aspirations to achieve low-carbon emissions for our industry and offers recommendations on addressing them across key regions,” said Mousumi Bhat, PhD, Vice President of Global Sustainability Programs at SEMI. “We reviewed the analysis and proposed recommendations with representatives of MOTIE in South Korea as a very constructive first step. We look forward to continuing our discussions and assisting, wherever possible, with implementation of solutions and growing our sustainable manufacturing footprint there and in other regions.”

SEMI announced the meeting with EC representatives and South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) officials on June 4, 2024.

The Energy Collaborative Report: Key Challenges and Potential Solutions for Expansion and Procurement of Low-Carbon Electricity for South Korea is the first of five to be released. Other regions analyzed by the EC include Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore. Companies interested in becoming sponsors of the Energy Collaborative initiative may contact Jamie Belliveau at jbelliveau@semi.org to discuss the benefits.

About the Energy Collaborative

The SEMI Energy Collaborative is dedicated to engaging a leadership network of corporations and domain experts to accelerate the pace of adoption of renewable energy solutions together with regional governments and regulators in key markets. Through collaboration with the semiconductor value chain, the EC aspires to improve the currently untenable trajectory of semiconductor manufacturing emissions. Companies sharing this vision from across the semiconductor and energy ecosystems sponsor the EC, along with partners from civil society and non-profit organizations.