In this insightful conversation, Mr. Ganesh Kothawade, President, ABB India Distribution Solutions business delve into the company’s pivotal role in the semiconductor industry. He explore ABB’s innovative electrification solutions, their impact on energy efficiency, and their alignment with India’s ambitious semiconductor mission. The discussion highlights ABB’s advancements in sustainable technologies, trends shaping the industry, and how ABB’s cutting-edge products are powering the future of chip manufacturing in India.
1. Can you provide an overview of ABB’s role in the semiconductor industry?
India’s semiconductor industry is starting to garner much attention. The government launched the India Semiconductor Mission and display manufacturing ecosystem with an outlay of Rs. 76000 crores in December 2021 paving the way to a huge potential for advanced electrification solutions that support the high energy-intensive semiconductor industry. ABB has a vital role in our Medium & Low voltage switchgear, Relays, SCADA & Automation systems which are critical for semiconductor facilities that need a constant uninterrupted power supply and efficient energy use. ABB’s global expertise and comprehensive local presence enable semiconductor manufacturers in India to leverage cutting-edge technology and industry-specific solutions to meet the high demands of energy-efficient solutions.
2. How do your electrification products, such as GIS, AIS, E-House, Numerical relays & SCADA, make semiconductor manufacturing more energy efficient?
Our Gas-Insulated Switchgear and Air-Insulated Switchgear provide reliable, efficient power distribution solutions ensuring the critical semiconductor production lines have uninterrupted power supply. Relays contribute to the protection, control, measurement, and supervision of electrical systems, ensuring efficient power distribution. The Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system monitors and controls the manufacturing processes, analyzing data in real-time. Our recent development of sensor-based technologies is intended to lower the carbon footprint & enhance energy efficiency. Our Non-SF6 11kV GIS has a GWP <1. Our centralized protection systems are making protection systems much smarter and leaner. For the semiconductor industry, these systems are vital for its efficient functioning. These solutions are particularly useful for the emerging semiconductor industry in India.
3. What are the trends or innovations in the semiconductor industry that ABB is most excited about in terms of energy efficiency?
One of the growing trends that we are noticing is the global shift in the supply chain from China to other countries. India is emerging as a potential player in the chip manufacturing market. Initiatives like the Indian Semiconductor Mission (ISM) have positioned India as a key player in the global semiconductor landscape. India is fast striding towards sustainable and energy-efficient electrical infrastructure. ABB is rightly positioned to meet these demands. Our innovation in Advanced protection systems, Sensor-based portfolio for measurement and protection, Digital switchgear & and SF-6 free Gas Insulated Switchgear are perfectly aligned with the needs of chip manufacturers in minimizing energy consumption and complying with green environment standards.
4. How do you see the role of switchgear electrification products evolving with the increasing complexity of chip manufacturing?
India is working towards building a robust semiconductor infrastructure with a focus on reducing dependency on imports and establishing its manufacturing capabilities. The Ken Report 2022 states that the Indian Semiconductor market is expected to see a compound annual growth rate of 20% by 2027, driven by the rising demand from various sectors including industrial machinery, telecommunications, artificial Intelligence manufacturing, automobiles, and consumer electronics. Modern semiconductor manufacturing processes are power-intensive and highly sensitive to voltage functions or power interruptions. Switchgear is a very critical part of the system. Given the fact that power reliability and no downtime are of utmost importance, it is imperative that switchgear is efficiently designed & must be digitally enabled to be able to provide predictive and preventive alarms to avoid any downtime. ABB’s state-of-the-art designs coupled with M&D solutions can provide preventive alarms in case of any upcoming functional discrepancy. ABB equipment enables efficient power distribution systems which saves costs & increases reliability. Our Power distribution center (or E-houses) can be a very good addition to this segment since it is sort of a plug-and-play turnkey power distribution solution that houses switchgear & other power distribution equipment. It saves considerable space & time to deploy enabling our customers to put up their facilities faster.
5. Considering the environmental impact of semiconductor manufacturing, how does ABB’s technology contribute to sustainability in this industry?
As a technology leader in electrification and automation, ABB is at the core of accelerating the energy transition. Our complete value chain not only focuses on product technology but also on the activities involved in producing it. ABB was one of the first organizations to launch an eco-ready 11kV PGIS in India in 2020-2021. This product has a GWP<1. Our other innovations on digital switchgear incorporating CT & VT sensors enable a considerable reduction in CO2 emission over the life cycle of switchgear. Even our factories producing the equipment are certified for ESG ratings in platinum.
