Semiconductors are one of the major factors to usher in a new age of technological wonder. Progress, however, sometimes comes at a price, and semiconductors can take a toll on the environment. NXP has a vision of helping to bring the future forward while reducing our impact on the environment. Our cutting-edge manufacturing facility in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, is one of our sites where we turn our vision into action.
As part of NXP's commitment to fulfilling the ambitions of the 2016 Paris agreement, we are dedicated to becoming carbon-neutral by 2035, with a mid-term goal of a 35% reduction by 2027. To help achieve this goal, NXP is constantly exploring more sustainable manufacturing methods. This can be done in various ways, including reducing power consumption, and cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
To reach our sustainability targets, NXP has formulated a Sustainable Manufacturing Program (SMP), which focuses on reducing direct emissions. Everyone within the company is expected to contribute to the goal, but the biggest gains are to be made by making our manufacturing processes more sustainable. This is where our Nijmegen site is making a significant contribution to our efforts.
Nijmegen's sustainability efforts are aimed at reducing the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG), which can be divided into two categories:
Nijmegen's efforts mainly concentrate on Scope 1 emissions.
Nijmegen has a population of roughly 190.000 people, and our site accounts for approximately 60% of the city's total electric power consumption. Our Nijmegen site is currently running on about 40% renewable electricity and is mindful of how to expand this. To reduce these scope 2 emissions, NXP is striving to increase the share of renewable energy, mainly by purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), which are traded globally.
There are also other options available to produce semiconductors with a significantly smaller carbon footprint. One of these is the use of “Burner-Washers” which use a high-temperature chemical reaction to burn the Perfluorocarbons (PFCs). These are greenhouse gases produced during manufacturing and they are extremely harmful to the environment. The burning process produces carbon dioxide and hydrogen fluoride, which is “washed” from the mix, leaving acidic wastewater. The wastewater is then treated in a Fluoride Batch Reactor that reduces the acidity to acceptable levels so it can be disposed of responsibly. This method also produces Calcium Fluoride, which can be used in some industrial processes. NXP Nijmegen will expand the number of Burner-Washers in the next two years, resulting in about 42% reduction of PFCs by 2027.
Heat Transfer Fluids (HTFs), which are used to control heat in wafer-processing chambers, are also a source of Scope 1 emissions. Some gases are released due to leaks in Temperature Control Units, a.k.a. 'Chillers'. Modern chillers are now being made that use refrigerants that have a much lower impact on global warming, while old equipment is being replaced by solid-state alternatives (i.e. using Peltier elements). The process will be further refined in the next ten years to minimize the use of HTFs that contribute to GHG. By using the latest innovations in sustainable manufacturing, Nijmegen hopes to make a significant contribution toward reaching NXP's targets.
Read more about our renewable energy strategy in our Corporate Sustainability Report .
Fenno de Vries is a Design Engineer at NXP. Next to his daily job as design engineer in NXP's automotive R&D community, Fenno is an active member of NXP's Employee Resource Group (ERG) 'No eXtra Planet'. In this group, he contributes to creating awareness about sustainability in the NXP community. Based in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, he actively supports the ERG's local activities.
