Global Semiconductor Carbon Emissions Forecast, 2025-2030
In Industry First, TechInsights Carbon Emissions Forecast Expects 277 Million Metric Tons of CO₂e in 2030.
The semiconductor industry is undergoing rapid growth. However, this expansion comes with significant environmental implications. To set the bar for semiconductor sustainability and provide analysis and leadership to address the industry's carbon footprint, TechInsights has developed the Global Semiconductor Carbon Emissions Forecast, 2025-2030.
A Deep Dive into Semiconductor Emissions
TechInsights' comprehensive global forecast provides a granular analysis of semiconductor emissions from 2025 to 2030, considering factors like technology node, device type, and regional variations. By leveraging data on silicon shipments and outputs from the EcoInsights product suite, the forecast sheds light on the key trends shaping the industry's environmental impact.
Key Findings from the Global Semiconductor Carbon Emissions Forecast, 2025-2030:
- Rising Emissions: Semiconductor emissions are projected to increase significantly, reaching 277 million metric tons of CO₂e by 2030. This growth is fueled by increasing demand for advanced technologies and energy-intensive manufacturing processes.
- Dominance of Wafer Fabrication: Most emissions originate from wafer fabrication, highlighting the importance of optimizing this phase of the manufacturing process.
- Regional Variations: The carbon intensity of semiconductor manufacturing varies across different regions, with Asia contributing over 80% of wafer fabrication capacity responsible for the majority of emissions.
- Impact of Technology Nodes: Advances in technology nodes, such as the introduction of high-NA EUV lithography and increasing process complexity, can influence energy consumption and, consequently, carbon emissions.
- Role of 3D NAND: 3D NAND devices, while offering higher storage density, can also impact emissions due to increasing material intensity.
By providing a detailed breakdown of semiconductor emissions, TechInsights' thought leadership and data-driven analysis (powered by our EcoInsights sustainability tools) has produced the industry’s first carbon emissions forecast. It provides an objective bar to measure progress over the next five, very critical, years. For more detail and the data behind it, read the full Global Semiconductor Carbon Emissions Forecast, 2025-2030.
