SEMI Energy Collaborative: recommendations to boost low carbon energy in South Korea

Developed by the SEMI Energy Collaborative (EC) and its sponsors, with insights from partner organisations 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 30TWh gap in meeting declared corporate targets for 2030. The gap may increase to 30 to 50TWh if the sector aligns its decarbonisation 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 analyses 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 4^th June 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 analysed by the EC include Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Singapore. Companies interested in becoming sponsors of the Energy Collaborative initiative may contact Jamie Belliveau to discuss the benefits.