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Semiconductor and solar-cell production facilities rely on GE technology
FEATURE
Semiconductor and solar-cell production facilities rely on GE technology General Electric Co (GE) has signed a contract to supply an ultrapure water system to Globalfoundries’ new semiconductor manufacturing facility currently under construction at the Luther Forest Technology Campus in Saratoga County, New York, USA. What is believed to be the world’s largest silicon solarcell manufacturing factory, based in Malaysia, is also set to use an ultrapure water system from the company. GE will design, supply and install an advanced ultrapure water system for Globalfoundries’ $4.6-billion computer chip factory called ‘Fab 8’. This facility is one of the largest economic development projects now under way in the USA and when it is completed in late 2012 it is expected to be the largest and most advanced semiconductor wafer fabrication facility (or ‘fab’) in the world. ‘The reliable, long-term production of ultrapure water will play a vital role in the successful operations of our new Fab 8 facility. We chose GE based on its extensive experience and ability to provide ongoing reliable technical and field support,’ said Norm Armour, Vice President and General Manager, Fab 8, Globalfoundries.
sible, to help reduce the plant’s operational costs, which will be crucial for the company to successfully compete in the global semiconductor industry,’ commented Jeff Connelly, Vice President, Engineered Systems, Water and Process Technologies, GE Power & Water. ‘The project illustrates the demand for ultrapure water systems in the semiconductor industry, which has some of the manufacturing sector’s most stringent quality requirements when it comes to industrial water usage.’
Solar-cell fabrication
GE’s ultrapure water system consists of a series of water treatment technologies, pumps, storage tanks, ultraviolet sterilisers, ozone generators, ion-exchange units, an ultrafiltration system and a gas-transfer membrane system. Filtering millions of gallons of water per day that is used in the semiconductor manufacturing process, it will significantly reduce operating costs and increase efficiency. Ultrapure water systems are often considered the ‘‘lifeblood’’ of a fab. During the production cycle, a wafer comes into contact with ultrapure water more than 35 times and any disruption of service or ‘out-of-spec’ water can compromise the wafers and even result in loss of product. In order to consistently manufacture superior semiconductor wafers, Globalfoundries requires the reliable production of ultrapure water 24 hours per day, 365 days a year.
SunPower Corp has selected GE to supply an ultrapure water system for use at a new solar-cell fabrication plant in Malaysia to meet the needs of this next-generation manufacturing facility. According to GE, the system will save more than 870 000 m3 (230 million gallons) of water, compared with other technologies – sufficient to meet the daily water needs of a community of more than 8300 residents. The facility, owned by SunPower and AU Optronics Corp (AUO), will be the largest silicon solar-cell manufacturing factory in the world and is expected to begin operating towards the end of 2010 and ramp production during the following two years. The factory, known as Fab 3, is located 20 km north of Melaka, in a region that previously has experienced water shortages and drought. GE will design, supply and install a water system featuring the internationally patented high-efficiency reverse osmosis (HERO) process. The system, operating on a challenging and variable feed-water source, will provide around 9 m3 (2400 gallons) of ultrapure water per minute for manufacturing.
Crucial
Growth and sustainability
‘We are excited about supporting Globalfoundries’ goals to make its Fab 8 chip fabrication plant as energy-efficient and water-efficient as pos-
Responsible environmental stewardship is central to SunPower’s vision for the company’s growth and sustainability.
Water treatment technologies
10
Membrane Technology
‘SunPower is committed to helping protect the quantity and quality of our water resources, and we are proud that, with GE, we are able to achieve new environmental and performance benchmarks in our industry,’ said Rob Vinje, Managing Director, SunPower. ‘SunPower’s unique PV manufacturing process produces the highest-efficiency solar cells on the market today, and we expect the same from our water systems. Our collaboration with GE on this project will not only benefit our community, but ultimately our customers as we continue to drive down the cost and impact of manufacturing.’ Connelly added: ‘With operating efficiencies exceeding 90%, the HERO system will not only conserve water, but through advances in technology and its implementation, we will also see an immediate positive return on environment for our customer.’ GE says that this is exactly the type of project that reflects its commitment to its Ecomagination initiative – helping its customers by delivering innovative technology and products to meet environmental challenges while driving economic growth.
Ecomagination products GE has set a new target to grow revenues from Ecomagination products at twice the rate of the total company revenue in the next five years, making Ecomagination an even larger proportion of total company sales. In 2009, the Ecomagination portfolio included more than 80 products and Ecomagination revenues grew 6% to $18 billion even in a challenging global environment. Contact: GE Water & Process Technologies, 4636 Somerton Road, Trevose, PA 19053-6783, USA. Tel: +1 215 355 3300, www.gewater.com Globalfoundries, 1050 E. Arques Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94085, USA. Tel: +1 408 462 3900, www.globalfoundries.com SunPower Corp, 3939 N. 1st Street, San Jose, CA 95134. Tel: +1 408 240 5500, http://us.sunpowercorp.com
August 2010
Semiconductor and solar-cell production facilities rely on GE technology General Electric Co (GE) has signed a contract to supply an ultrapure water system to Globalfoundries’ new semiconductor manufacturing facility currently under construction at the Luther Forest Technology Campus in Saratoga County, New York, USA. What is believed to be the world’s largest silicon solarcell manufacturing factory, based in Malaysia, is also set to use an ultrapure water system from the company. GE will design, supply and install an advanced ultrapure water system for Globalfoundries’ $4.6-billion computer chip factory called ‘Fab 8’. This facility is one of the largest economic development projects now under way in the USA and when it is completed in late 2012 it is expected to be the largest and most advanced semiconductor wafer fabrication facility (or ‘fab’) in the world. ‘The reliable, long-term production of ultrapure water will play a vital role in the successful operations of our new Fab 8 facility. We chose GE based on its extensive experience and ability to provide ongoing reliable technical and field support,’ said Norm Armour, Vice President and General Manager, Fab 8, Globalfoundries.
sible, to help reduce the plant’s operational costs, which will be crucial for the company to successfully compete in the global semiconductor industry,’ commented Jeff Connelly, Vice President, Engineered Systems, Water and Process Technologies, GE Power & Water. ‘The project illustrates the demand for ultrapure water systems in the semiconductor industry, which has some of the manufacturing sector’s most stringent quality requirements when it comes to industrial water usage.’
Solar-cell fabrication
GE’s ultrapure water system consists of a series of water treatment technologies, pumps, storage tanks, ultraviolet sterilisers, ozone generators, ion-exchange units, an ultrafiltration system and a gas-transfer membrane system. Filtering millions of gallons of water per day that is used in the semiconductor manufacturing process, it will significantly reduce operating costs and increase efficiency. Ultrapure water systems are often considered the ‘‘lifeblood’’ of a fab. During the production cycle, a wafer comes into contact with ultrapure water more than 35 times and any disruption of service or ‘out-of-spec’ water can compromise the wafers and even result in loss of product. In order to consistently manufacture superior semiconductor wafers, Globalfoundries requires the reliable production of ultrapure water 24 hours per day, 365 days a year.
SunPower Corp has selected GE to supply an ultrapure water system for use at a new solar-cell fabrication plant in Malaysia to meet the needs of this next-generation manufacturing facility. According to GE, the system will save more than 870 000 m3 (230 million gallons) of water, compared with other technologies – sufficient to meet the daily water needs of a community of more than 8300 residents. The facility, owned by SunPower and AU Optronics Corp (AUO), will be the largest silicon solar-cell manufacturing factory in the world and is expected to begin operating towards the end of 2010 and ramp production during the following two years. The factory, known as Fab 3, is located 20 km north of Melaka, in a region that previously has experienced water shortages and drought. GE will design, supply and install a water system featuring the internationally patented high-efficiency reverse osmosis (HERO) process. The system, operating on a challenging and variable feed-water source, will provide around 9 m3 (2400 gallons) of ultrapure water per minute for manufacturing.
Crucial
Growth and sustainability
‘We are excited about supporting Globalfoundries’ goals to make its Fab 8 chip fabrication plant as energy-efficient and water-efficient as pos-
Responsible environmental stewardship is central to SunPower’s vision for the company’s growth and sustainability.
Water treatment technologies
10
Membrane Technology
‘SunPower is committed to helping protect the quantity and quality of our water resources, and we are proud that, with GE, we are able to achieve new environmental and performance benchmarks in our industry,’ said Rob Vinje, Managing Director, SunPower. ‘SunPower’s unique PV manufacturing process produces the highest-efficiency solar cells on the market today, and we expect the same from our water systems. Our collaboration with GE on this project will not only benefit our community, but ultimately our customers as we continue to drive down the cost and impact of manufacturing.’ Connelly added: ‘With operating efficiencies exceeding 90%, the HERO system will not only conserve water, but through advances in technology and its implementation, we will also see an immediate positive return on environment for our customer.’ GE says that this is exactly the type of project that reflects its commitment to its Ecomagination initiative – helping its customers by delivering innovative technology and products to meet environmental challenges while driving economic growth.
Ecomagination products GE has set a new target to grow revenues from Ecomagination products at twice the rate of the total company revenue in the next five years, making Ecomagination an even larger proportion of total company sales. In 2009, the Ecomagination portfolio included more than 80 products and Ecomagination revenues grew 6% to $18 billion even in a challenging global environment. Contact: GE Water & Process Technologies, 4636 Somerton Road, Trevose, PA 19053-6783, USA. Tel: +1 215 355 3300, www.gewater.com Globalfoundries, 1050 E. Arques Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94085, USA. Tel: +1 408 462 3900, www.globalfoundries.com SunPower Corp, 3939 N. 1st Street, San Jose, CA 95134. Tel: +1 408 240 5500, http://us.sunpowercorp.com
August 2010