Samsung will use sewage water to quench surging thirst for semiconductors — 400 million liters of waste water to be purified and used daily to manufacture electronic chips
The semiconductor industry is notorious for its massive water consumption, with each chip requiring thousands of gallons of ultrapure water for production.
Ultrapure water (UPW) refers to water that has undergone purification to eliminate impurities, including fine particles and microorganisms, leaving behind only the fundamental hydrogen and oxygen molecules that make up H2O.
In response to the escalating demand for semiconductors, amplified by the ongoing global chip shortage, Samsung Semiconductor is planning to expand its production lines. One of the knock-on effects of this is that by 2030, the industrial water required for its facilities is projected to more than double from the current amount.
400 million liters
To address this demand, Samsung has announced plans to use wastewater to meet its enormous water needs.
The South Korean tech giant plans to purify and use an astonishing 400 million liters (105.668 million gallons) of wastewater daily for the manufacture of chips. The wastewater will be treated and purified to a standard safe for industrial use at the company’s Hwaseong plant.
Even minuscule impurities can impact chip production and quality, so the water will undergo multiple stages of filtration and purification to ensure it is completely free from any contaminants that could potentially harm the delicate semiconductor manufacturing process.
Samsung views this initiative as a significant step towards sustainable production. By using wastewater, the company is greatly reducing its reliance on freshwater sources, thereby contributing to water conservation efforts.
Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed!
The move is expected to have a massive impact on the chip manufacturing industry, with other companies potentially following suit. It could set a new standard for sustainable practices in an industry that has long been under scrutiny for its environmental impact.
More from TechRadar Pro
The semiconductor industry is notorious for its massive water consumption, with each chip requiring thousands of gallons of ultrapure water for production. Ultrapure water (UPW) refers to water that has undergone purification to eliminate impurities, including fine particles and microorganisms, leaving behind only the fundamental hydrogen and oxygen molecules that…
Recent Posts
- Google’s Live Caption may soon become more emotionally expressive on Android
- Doctor Who: Boom review: All hail the conquering hero
- Quordle today – hints and answers for Saturday, May 18 (game #845)
- NYT Strands today — hints, answers and spangram for Saturday, May 18 (game #76)
- Logitech Pro X 60 Keyboard Review: Best, Brightest, and Now Smaller
Archives
- May 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- December 2011