Page 16 - EE Times Europe Magazine – November 2023

SPECIAL REPORT: GREENER ELECTRONICS

Electronics Goes Green

By Anne-Françoise Pelé
T he electronics industry accounts for 4% of global

greenhouse gas emissions, according to market and
consultancy firm IDTechEx.
With the rising urgency around climate change,
the semiconductor and electronics industry must adopt a
making-without-taking approach and develop new or alterna-
tive techniques, strategies and technologies to preserve nature
and its resources.
The actions that governments take now can set the world
on a path to a more sustainable future. While the EU’s com-
mitment to sustainability and circular economy goals is
commendable, questions persist about its ability to achieve
carbon neutrality by 2050.
The pursuit of net zero can only truly begin with a collabo-
rative approach.
Every player along the value chain must think creatively
about sustainability challenges and solutions. How can we
transform the semiconductor industry from a heavy carbon
emitter to a minimal CO -footprint contributor? How can
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AI be more environmentally friendly? How do we extend
battery life with energy harvesting? What are the promises
and challenges of quantum computing for energy storage?
Are zinc-based batteries a better alternative to lithium-ion
batteries? What is the hydrogen economy? What is the EU
regulation on green hydrogen?
In this Special Report, we explore the latest developments in
research, innovation, policy and industry initiatives. It draws
on discussions with IBM Research Europe, NeuReality, Astrape
Networks, Flexciton, Dracula Technologies, Lightricity and
Planckian, as well as contributions by companies NeoLogic,
Vsora, Trameto, Enerpoly and IDTechEx; industry association
SEMI; and law firms Hunton Andrews Kurth and EIP.
The climate crisis is a race the electronics industry can win. ■
IMAGE: ADOBE STOCK