The journey towards green and carbon neutral electronics: Ecodesign, materials and supply chain management

Karsten Schischke
Group Manager Product Ecodesign and Circular Materials
Fraunhofer IZM

Abstract
Carbon neutrality targets, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and circular economy policies currently trigger a wave of activities towards reducing environmental impacts of electronics, on the product, component and process level. This presentation provides the broad picture of electronics life cycle impacts, summarises current drivers, including company policies and initiatives of the European Union in particular, and how industry is responding and needs to respond: Extending the coverage of carbon reporting towards the supply chain to identify hot spots to tackle, efforts to keep materials in the loop and how emerging technology concepts face new circularity challenges. The presentation comprises examples from carbon accounting, discusses bio-based materials as a potential “green” alternative and sustainability challenges of structural electronics.

Biography
Karsten is Group Manager Product Ecodesign and Circular Materials at Fraunhofer IZM. He has more than 20 years of experience in applied research on sustainability of electronics. Since 2008 he is coordinating large European research and innovation projects in the FP7 and Horizon 2020 programme, including projects on recycling of post-consumer plastics for new electrical and electronic equipment and on eco-design of smart mobile devices. He is involved in projects for the European Commission to shape eco-design and energy label policy for ICT products. Currently he leads a project for scope 3 carbon accounting in electronics supply chains

The sustainable edge computer - the greenest data centers for smart cities and citizens

Jens Struckmeier
CTO & Founder
Cloud&Heat Technologies GmbH

Abstract
With the increasing digitalization and usage of applications such as artificial intelligence and the resulting high processing of data, the energy consumption in data centers is rising dramatically. By 2030, statistics show that digital infrastructures will contribute to 4-6% of the total global electrical consumption. Mainly driven by growth of hyperscale datacenters as well as from the growing decentralized edge computing infrastructure. Cloud&Heat's energy-efficient direct hot water cooling makes it possible to decrease the carbon footprint while reusing the waste heat of data centers and running them on local renewable energy.

Biography
Dr. Jens Struckmeier is a physicist, inventor and entrepreneur from Germany. Whilst still a student, he initiated and was responsible for planning the first fully green passive house in North Rhine-Westphalia, for sustainable living without a conventional heating system. Between 2000 and 2003 Jens worked as a project lead in device and software development in Santa Barbara, USA. From 2004 to 2009 he successfully founded and managed a German nano-biology instrumentation company (eventually bought by Bruker). In 2009 Jens started developing water cooling systems for data centers, which led to the foundation of the green computing business Cloud&Heat Technologies. Since then, the vision of the Dresden-based company has been to make sustainability the driver of digital innovation. Cloud&Heat develops, builds and operates energy-efficient, green, secure and scalable (edge) data centers, meeting the growing demand for distributed and highly available IT infrastructures. Jens is not only the driving force behind the company’s hardware development but is also focused on a variety of other topics, such as data security, AI, AR, VR and blockchain. Jens’ disruptive inventions have led to Cloud&Heat being awarded several innovation prizes, including the Saxon environmental prize in 2013; the German Data Center Prize in 2015, 2016 and 2019; the European Culture Innovation prize in 2018 and being named the Deloitte Fast 50 winner in 2019. Jens is frequently invited to both national and international conferences as a keynote speaker and was named Best Speaker at the German Data Center Day 2016.

SiC Power MOS technology evolution as an example for sustainable and efficient energy conversion in DC grids

Tobias Erlbacher
Department Manager
Fraunhofer IISB

Abstract
The commercialization of 4H-SiC power devices for industrial and automotive applications is in full progress , but also in constant competition with classical Si technologies as well as GaN based devices. Cost pressure and technology innovation are pushing device performance to the next level. Conversely further advances in the required manufacturing technologies are becoming increasingly difficult due to the growing efforts to optimize the devices. Distinct optimization of wafer material, technology, design, processes, manufacturing tools and characterization equipment is becoming increasingly important. Moreover, application specific devices will be tailored towards new markets and the resulting requirements.In order to visualize the progress revolving around SiC power device evolution, the technology and design innovation history for VDMOS transistors is reviewed first. This includes wafer quality and diameter, design improvements using JFET implantation and cell shrink.Then, device optimization strategies are discussed. This includes trade-offs between on-state resistance, blocking voltage (performance), surge current and avalanche capability (ruggedness) as well as gate oxide reliability and yield.Finally, a basic roadmap is presented to project further optimization strategies like overlay accuracy, wafer grinding, alternative wafer materials and yield optimization (e.g. for thermal oxidation, wafer substrates). The roadmap will then be evaluated in terms of requirements for materials, processes, manufacturing tools and characterization equipment for the next generations of devices. In summary, the need for dedicated equipment and characterization tools for SiC technology is discussed.

Biography
Tobias Erlbacher received the Diploma in Electrical Engineering (Microelectronics) from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in 2004, and his Ph.D. degree in 2008. Since 2009, he is with the Fraunhofer Institute of Integrated Systems and Device Technology IISB in Erlangen, where he is heading the “Semiconductor Devices” Department. Additionally, he is an appointed lecturer at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg since 2015. His research activities focus on device modelling, design and integration as well as technology development for power electronics. This includes the monolithic integration of passive networks and the optimization of power semiconductor devices in silicon integrated circuits. Moreover, Dr. Erlbacher is working on design and development of silicon carbide devices for power applications, high-temperature integrated circuits and sensors. He also has expertise with non-volatile memories and device characterization at the nano-scale. He has authored a book on lateral power transistors in integrated circuits. He has authored and coauthored over 120 papers in scientific journals and conference, and he contributed to 15 patent families.

Sustainable approaches in semiconductor manufacturing – Intel Ireland Corporate Services examples

Cathy Cronin
Senior Environmental, Health and Safety Engineer
Intel Ireland

Abstract
Cathy’s presentation will provide an overview of sustainable approaches in semiconductor manufacturing using Intel Ireland as a case example. Her presentation will cover Intel’s RISE (Responsible, Inclusive, Sustainable & Enabling) 2030 goals with a focus on its Global Sustainability Goals and what Intel Ireland are doing to support those goals in the areas of Energy/Climate, Water and Waste. She will also cover local examples of biodiversity initiatives which the Intel Ireland site have implemented over the years.

Biography
Cathy Cronin is a senior Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Engineer working with Intel Ireland at its state of the art semiconductor manufacturing facility in Leixlip Co. Kildare. Cathy has over 18 years’ experience working in a broad range of areas of EHS & Energy Management. She is passionate about the safety and wellbeing of people and protecting the environment. Her core job at Intel involves ensuring EHS compliance and continuous improvement at the site. Cathy is also passionate about diversity and inclusion and leads the Intel Ireland Corporate Services Women in Intel group and is part of many university mentoring programs for science & engineering students. Cathy is a graduate of both Trinity College Dublin and the University of Bath, UK where she completed her studies in Environmental Sciences & Engineering and also holds a MSc. in Management from University College Dublin, Smurfit Business School.

Germanium: turning sustainability into a commercial advantage

Ivan Zyulkov
Business Development Manager Electro-Optic Materials
Umicore

Abstract
Coming soon

Biography
Dr. Ivan Zyulkov has obtained his PhD from KU Leuven (Belgium) working on selective metal deposition for advanced metallization schemes. Ivan Zyulkov has 10 years of experience in the semiconductor industry at various companies including IMEC (R&D of area-selective ALD processes), ASM International (development of ALD processes for patterning) and Umicore (program management of new precursor development). Currently he is working at Umicore as business development manager for the electro-optic materials business unit.

Introduction to SEMI Sustainability Initiative

James Amano
Sr Director, Int'l Standards and EHSS
SEMI

Abstract
In response to Member demands, SEMI has initiated a Sustainability Initiative to find a common way to move forward on issues facing the industry, including:● Increasing pressure from stakeholders (investors, financial institutions, NGOs, governments/regulators)● Attracting future generations to work in the industry and retaining current workforce● The need for collaboration in identifying and developing sustainability-enabling technologies (decarbonization, water, energy, etc.)● Showing leadership – proving that the industry is part of the solution.This presentation will introduce the SEMI Sustainability Initiative and current efforts underway, and show how all SEMI Members can get involved.

Biography
James Amano is Senior Director, International Standards & Environment, Health, Safety, and Sustainability at SEMI. Prior to joining SEMI, he worked as the Silicon Valley sales engineer for Matsusada Precision, and as a trade specialist for the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO). He holds degrees in Economics and Environmental Conservation from the University of Colorado at Boulder.