The role of semiconductors in the energy landscape

Abstract

Semiconductor technologies, products and solutions have long played a key role in improving efficiency along the whole energy chain and the importance of this role will continually increase. The greatest future energy saving will come from the adoption of semiconductor technologies, especially in buildings, which are forecasted to consume around 50% less electricity in 2030. In this area, savings will come from three sources: more efficient appliances (with an estimated 60% reduction), intelligent lighting and HVAC (with up to 50% reduction), and increased energy-consumption consciousness at the consumer level, thanks to energy monitoring in-house systems (with up to 20% potential saving). Furthermore, the advent of the Smart Grid will contribute to energy saving and to eco-sustainability. Grid optimization, through the improved modeling and control that will be possible with the deployment of Smart Meters and Automatic Meter Infrastructures (AMI), will significantly reduce infrastructure losses. Above all, it will enable the integration of renewable sources as alternatives to traditional carbon-based sources, allowing the possibility of meeting international targets such as Europe's EU 20-20-20 target that can strongly contribute reductions in CO2 emissions and containment of global warming.