Schneider electric announces google, ASM and HP join catalyse programme

The growing participation will expand access to renewable energy in the semiconductor space.

Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, has announced that Google, ASM and HP have joined the Catalyse programme, which aims to accelerate access to renewable energy across the global semiconductor value chain and IT supply landscape, as new global sponsors.

The first-of-its-kind programme was first announced in July, with sponsors Intel and Applied Materials. The announcement that three more leading technology companies have now joined as founding sponsors coincides with the COP28 United Nations Climate Change Conference taking place in Dubai.

Catalyse encourages suppliers from throughout the semiconductor industry ecosystem to collaborate to transition their value chain to renewable sources of energy. Participants are encouraged to make commitments to decarbonisation and take collective action through the procurement of renewable energy, leveraging the purchasing power of buyer cohorts.

The energy transition within the value chain is imperative. According to a recent study by the SEMI Semiconductor Climate Consortium, the semiconductor industry’s carbon footprint was equivalent to 500Mt of CO2 in 2021—with 16 per cent coming from the supply chain. By transitioning suppliers onto lower-carbon sources of energy and supporting them in other decarbonisation actions like electrification, the industry can make a significant impact on its overall Scope 3 emissions.

“We are delighted to welcome Google, ASM, and HP to the Catalyse programme. Their decision to join supports the ambition to accelerate the decarbonisation of supply chains,” said Jean-Pascal Tricoire, Chairman, Schneider Electric. “Scope 3 emissions have proven a challenge to track and manage, but the Catalyse programme enables companies and their suppliers to engage and collaborate in their energy transition and decarbonisation,” he added.

“Transitioning to carbon-free semiconductor manufacturing is critical to reducing global emissions, and no company can do it alone,” said Michael Terrell, Senior Director Energy and Climate, Google. “We are excited to become a founding sponsor of the Catalyse program and look forward to working with our fellow sponsors and suppliers to expand the use of clean energy across this critical area of Google’s supply chain,” he added.