TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Foxconn has partnered with UK-based Pace and other firms to enter the carbon capture market, according to a Monday press release.

Invited to speak at SEMICON China last month, Foxconn Chief Environmental Protection Officer Hung Jung-chung (洪榮聰) said carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a key technology for combating climate change, per CNA. It reduces carbon emissions by capturing CO2 from industrial processes.

Citing estimates, he said global demand for carbon capture is about eight billion metric tons of CO2 annually. With 2050 as the net-zero emissions target year for many countries, US$15 trillion (NT$494.8 trillion) will be needed to scale up the process.

In response, Foxconn is working with Pace, a global leader in CCS system design, to develop a corrosion-resistant chemical injection unit. It removes impurities from captured CO2 to prevent internal corrosion in CCS networks.

Leveraging Foxconn’s expertise in gas reactions and piping design, Hung said the technology can reduce costs and accelerate carbon capture. “Through innovation in green production technologies, we can balance the benefits of semiconductors with ecological sustainability,” he added.

According to estimates by Exyte, by 2030 there will be more than 900 wafer fabs worldwide, emitting over 170 million metric tons of CO2 annually, consuming 18.8 quadrillion kWh of electricity, and using one billion cubic meters of water.