Definition of absolute environmental targets for the FDSOI industrial ecosystem and formulation of associated backcasting scenarios
We will elaborate a decarbonization plan for the manufacturing of MCUs and networking chips in the EU. To this end, we will define safe and just targets for the environmental impacts of the FDSOI industrial ecosystem (sub-sector), aligned with absolute sustainability objectives relying on the planetary boundary framework. This will allow the clarification of the climate targets without neglecting the other potential environmental externalities and without falling in the eco-efficiency pitfall that is limited to relative improvements.
We will then use a backcasting approach to formulate socio-technical scenarios to understand how the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the production of MCU and networking semiconductor chips could be aligned on 1.5°C pathways from the Paris Agreement and on the objectives of the European Green Deal, for automotive and ICT (connectivity) sectors, respectively. If other planetary boundaries are identified as relevant, the related environmental targets will be included in the backcasting scenarios. These socio-technical scenarios will rely on inputs from T1.2 on the component definition, from T1.4 on the technology definition and on life-cycle assessment results. These scenarios will cover several socio-technical transition families of scenarios, as defined by the ADEME on its Transition 2050 report combining technological improvements and non-technological innovation.
UCL leads this task with a top-down approach by analyzing safe and just targets for the environmental impacts of the FDSOI industrial ecosystem and elaborating a scenario-based decarbonization plans combining technological and non-technological innovations for the manufacturing of MCUs and networking chips in the EU, to reach these absolute sustainability targets using a backcasting approach.
CEA will contribute with a bottom-up Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of 28nm and next generation technology platforms, based on R&D internal data and extrapolation to industrial data. Comparison of different technological bricks and processing steps. Technical developments necessary towards the reduction of environmental impacts will be defined depending on the LCA results. These technical developments, carried out in the second stage of the project, may include reduction of the materials, water and energy consumption; alternative materials, technological bricks, processing recipes or tools; reduction of emissions into air or water and solid waste.
ST and SOITEC will support UCL and CEA on the evaluation of the current environmental impacts and on the evaluation of the impact reduction potential of technological improvements and non-technological innovations.