Installation of new generation cooling systems
STMicroelectronics met en place des groupes froid nouvelle génération ainsi que des systèmes de free cooling afin d’améliorer la performance énergétique de ses sites et de réduire leur consommation de gaz naturel.
Main project's drivers for reducing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
Energy and resource efficiency
Energy Decarbonisation
Energy efficiency improvements
Improving efficiency in non-energy resources
Emission removal
Financing low-carbon issuers or disinvestment from carbon assets
Reduction of other greenhouse gases emission
Project objectives
Improve the energy performance of the industrial processes used and decarbonize the energy used on these sites.
This project includes two actions:
- The installation of refrigeration units with energy recovery, which offer two main advantages. Refrigeration units cool down the production equipment in the clean room more efficiently than the current units. The heat recovered from these refrigeration units is used to heat the sites’ offices, without having to use traditional town gas boilers.
- The installation of a free cooling system that uses the outside air to cool down the production equipment, thereby reducing the use of refrigeration units in the intermediate seasons.
The structural design phase began in Q4 2020 and the project will be completed in 2021.
Emission scope(s)
on which the project has a significant impact
Scope 1
Direct emissions generated by the company's activity.
Scope 2
Indirect emissions associated with the company's electricity and heat consumption.
Scope 3
Emissions induced (upstream or downstream) by the company's activities, products and/or services in its value chain.
Emission Removal
Carbon sinks creation, (BECCS, CCU/S, …)
Avoided Emissions
Emissions avoided by the activities, products and/or services in charge of the project, or by the financing of emission reduction projects.
Scope 1 – Lower use of gas boilers to heat clean rooms or offices
- Quantification: 1,300 tCO2/year
Scope 2 – The chillers and free cooling systems use less electricity
- Quantification: 300 tCO2/year
Using the heat produced by the operation of the cooling units lowers the consumption of natural gas (7.27 GWh[GCV]/year) or 1,338 tCO2/year (considering an emission factor of 184 tCO2/GWh GCV).
The increased efficiency of the chillers and the use of free cooling systems saves 6.9 GWh/year, which represents 300 tCO2/year considering an emission factor of 43 tCO2/GWh.
Key points
Invested amount
More than 10 M€ in this project for the 3 sites.
Starting date of the project
2020
Project localisation
Crolles (Isère), Rousset (Bouches-du-Rhône), Tours (Indre et Loire) et Rennes (Ille et Vilaine)
Project maturity level
Prototype laboratory test (TRL 7)
Real life testing (TRL 7-8)
Pre-commercial prototype (TRL 9)
Small-scale implementation
Medium to large scale implementation
Economic profitability of the project (ROI)
Short term (0-3 years)
Middle term (4-10 years)
Long term (> years)
Illustrations of the project
Installing new generation cooling systems contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
- SDG 7 Affordable and Clean affordable energy: lower energy use (heat recovery, and more efficient cooling units) and lower energy carbonation (free cooling from the outside air).
- SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: improving the sustainability of ST’s industrial site, thanks to lower operating costs and reduced equipment obsolescence.
The chillers with heat recovery and free cooling systems can also be installed on other sites in Europe. The feasibility study is underway.
These systems can also be installed on sites outside Europe. The potential is equivalent to the total for Europe. The feasibility study will take place in 2021.
Two partnerships have been established with:
- EDF-Dalkia
- Engie
Contact the company carrying the project
sustainable.development@st.com
