Greenhouse gases at Siltronic
Siltronic's processes cause direct and indirect greenhouse gases. Emissions are also generated in the upstream and downstream value chain.
Scope 1: Direct greenhouse gas emissions at our locations are mainly caused by the stationary combustion of natural gas and diesel as well as the use of climate-relevant gases as coolants.
Scope 2: Indirect emissions are caused by the generation and provision of energy (electricity, heat) by our energy suppliers. The semiconductor industry is very energy-intensive. Therefore, indirect emissions are by far the main source of greenhouse gas emissions during production for Siltronic.
Scope 3: Emissions also occur in Siltronic's upstream and downstream value chain: at suppliers, during transportation of the products and during their use. Siltronic can only influence these emissions to a limited extent.
We record these emissions in our Group-wide CO2 balance sheet in accordance with the requirements of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. We also report the calculated greenhouse gas emissions annually as part of the CDP assessment.
Our targets
We aim to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions caused directly (Scope 1) and indirectly through the purchase of energy (Scope 2) to zero by 2045 at the latest. Despite continued growth and the associated significant increase in energy consumption, these greenhouse gas emissions are to be reduced by an absolute 42% by 2030 compared to the base year 2021.
Scope 1+2 | ||
Anually | 2030 | 2045 |
| Reduction of CO2 intensity1 by Ø 5% p.a. | Absolute reduction of CO2 emissions by 42% | "Net zero"2 CO2 emissions |
| Base year 2021 | ||
(1) t CO2eq per EUR mn sales (2) Net zero: Greenhouse gas emissions released into the atmosphere equal the amount removed.
With these targets, we want to make a contribution to the climate agreement adopted in Paris in 2015 to limit global warming to a maximum of 1.5 degrees Celsius: The 1.5-degree target is the central reference point for Siltronic for the target years 2030 and 2045. To achieve this, the CO2 intensity, measured by CO2 emissions in relation to sales, should decrease by an average of at least 5 percent per year between 2021 and 2030.
Annual report
Audited information and key figures on sustainability at Siltronic can be found in our current annual report.
Related information
External websites
Measures to achieve the targets
Our activities to reduce these emissions focus on increasing the efficiency of energy use and purchasing renewable energies:
Lever 1 – Energy Efficiency
Increasing energy efficiency and the associated reduction in emissions have always been a core element of our corporate strategy. We are also continuously working on more effective use and substitution with gases that have a lower greenhouse effect.
Lever 2 – Generation of renewable energy
Siltronic is currently installing a photovoltaic system at its US site in Portland.
Lever 3 - Procurement of renewable energy
The purchase of electricity from renewable energy sources via market instruments such as green electricity certificates with guarantees of origin will play an even greater role in achieving the climate targets in the coming years: To achieve its climate targets, Siltronic is committed to gradually increasing the proportion of renewable energy to 60 percent by 2030 and to 100 percent by 2045.
On our way to net-zero: climate action Plan
(1) Scope 1 and 2 | base year 2021 (2) 2030 vs. base year 2015 (3) Energy consumption per wafer area
RE100: Focus on renewable energies
To underpin its commitment to renewable energy, Siltronic joined the RE100 initiative in November 2023. RE100 is a global corporate initiative that promotes the exclusive use of renewable energy. With its membership, Siltronic wants to contribute to removing one of the biggest obstacles to global decarbonization: the insufficient amount of green electricity available in many energy markets.
Climate protection in the supply chain
Siltronic is also committed to climate protection in the supply chain and the reduction of so-called Scope 3 emissions – i.e. greenhouse gas emissions that arise outside of Siltronic's direct sphere of influence. Siltronic's target here is for 80 percent of our key suppliers to have set themselves ambitious climate targets by 2030. We will report annually on the achievement of these targets. This covers more than 50 percent of our purchasing volume. With this target, we are focusing on the part of Scope 3 emissions that we can best influence.
