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IBM Pioneers Process to Turn Wafer Waste Into Solar Energy |
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Written by CB Team
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Tuesday, 30 October 2007 |
 IBM has developed a new environmentally-friendly process that repurposes scrap semiconductor material for internal reuse and eventual recycling to the silicon-constrained solar panel industry.
IBM estimates that up to 3 million wafers are discarded every year and, because they contain intellectual property, most are relegated to landfill.
However, the new reclamation process pioneered at IBM's Burlington, VT semiconductor manufacturing facility reduces the amount of energy required for production, lowers the level of greenhouse gases emitted and provides energy savings by creating the raw materials needed for solar power.
The company reports the program also resulted in reduced spending on monitor wafers and increased efficiency in IBM’s wafer reclaim program.
The project also earned IBM the “2007 Most Valuable Pollution Prevention Award” from The National Pollution Prevention Roundtable.
IBM
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 30 October 2007 )
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