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Intel focuses on renewables, misses water and chemicals

Attempts to make chip production eco-friendly miss water usage

Chips have to be repeatedly rinsed with ultra-pure water during manufacturing

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Chips have to be repeatedly rinsed with ultra-pure water during manufacturing

Intel's new climate plan is ambitious on energy, but forgets about a resource that is just as important: fresh water.

Intel has published its Climate Transition Action Plan, focusing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and shifting to renewable sources of energy. However, it misses addressing water usage and the harsh chemicals involved in chipmaking.

The Santa Clara giant's strategy outlines plans such as switching to fully renewable electricity by 2030, and reaching net zero for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across its global operations by 2040.

Intel says it is working to achieve these reductions by installing electric facilities equipment at new offices and factories. It is also allegedly increasing the energy efficiency of process tools and facilities equipment.

However, water is only addressed as a climate-related risk to the business that could impact the ability to manufacture products in the future.

Chip production is heavily water-intensive; a single fab might consume millions of litres in a single day. According to the American Bar Association, it can take as much as 3,520 gallons (16,002 litres) of tap water to produce a single chip (although there are some economies of scale).

Last year Intel described a plan to mitigate this risk by achieving "net positive water" for its global operations by 2030, which means returning more water than it takes from the supplies. This means funding water projects elsewhere to restore more freshwater than is consumed.

However, there was no mention of or update to the freshwater project in the Climate Transition Action Plan.

In a foreword to the plan, CEO Pat Gelsinger writes:

"We are all participating in an evolving economy enabled by the magic of silicon. These tiny chips are essential to maintaining and enabling our modern lives.

"Intel is committed to delivering the silicon that powers our world while driving to the lowest possible environmental footprint."

Sustainability in scope

Intel says it has been able to mitigate increases in Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions over the last decade, citing a three times increase in manufacturing output since 2013. The company has avoided 80% of the cumulative emissions it would have generated, as per the report.

Scope 1 covers direct emissions from a company's operations, while Scope 2 covers indirect emissions, such as from the use of electricity.

The company said it intends to build new fabrication plants to meet US Green Building Council LEED standards by 2030. It also has a new goal of reaching net zero upstream Scope 3 GHG emissions, which come from its supply chain during the production of Intel's chips.

Scope 3 emissions make up the majority of most firms' carbon footprint. Upstream emissions are those dealing with the production of products, while downstream are associated with their use and disposal.

The USA's Semiconductor Industry Association lobbied Washington earlier this year to allow chipmakers to bypass environmental protection rules in order to speed up construction of new fabs to be built with CHIPS Act funding.

Earlier this year, Intel partnered with UK chip designer Arm to develop low-power chips through Intel Foundry Services (IFS).

Intel focuses on renewables, misses water and chemicals

Attempts to make chip production eco-friendly miss water usage

Intel's new climate plan is ambitious on energy, but forgets about a resource that is just as important: fresh water.

Sustainability in scope

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