Energy means life: It heats houses, powers cars and lights megacities. The global appetite for energy is voracious, while resources are dwindling.
One third of the energy consumed worldwide is electricity and the trend is rising. The name of the key energy source of the future is energy efficiency. Optimal electricity use is achieved by harnessing smart semiconductor technology: Innovative chip solutions fine-tune cars, industrial plants, consumer and household electronics to use less energy. And smart meters permit evaluation of every kilowatt hour with to-the-minute accuracy, helping to save electricity.
The electricity grids of the future will feed themselves locally from wind, sun and water. However peaks and troughs are inevitable. Smart grids will control the power supply and demand thus ensuring a reliable flow of current.
Employing Infineon’s innovative semiconductor solutions means that electricity comes from the socket with low losses. Our power electronics transmit energy from the power station to the consumer efficiently, over thousands of kilometers.
From the solar cell, through the power grid, all the way to the washing machine – Infineon’s leading power semiconductors, microcontrollers and sensors secure the company an ideal position in the growth market of “energy efficiency” and, looking ahead, make Infineon the perfect partner for optimizing the entire energy chain.
Bright lights without the heat
Generating heat as well as light, lamps are real energy guzzlers. Replacing incandescent lamps with efficient LED technology can translate into energy savings of up to 20 percent – enough to eliminate a large-scale power plant in Germany alone. With its “EnLight” research project, Infineon is developing new LED lighting solutions.
Power supplies determine how much of the energy drawn from the mains is actually fed to a PC or server. To maximize the efficiency of power supplies, Infineon has developed the first marketable silver box reference design enabling efficiency levels in excess of 92 percent – thus topping the global efficiency standard.
Energy efficiency standards are rising – especially for PCs, laptops, flat-screen TVs and server farms. In the NEULAND research project, six leading enterprises from the semiconductor and solar industries are collaborating to develop energy-efficient semiconductors. Infineon is spearheading the project.
Number One in the Global Market
Without electricity, modern life would come to a standstill. Power semiconductors are vital to energy efficiency throughout the electricity supply chain, from generation to consumption. For the seventh consecutive year, Infineon has retained its top ranking in the semiconductor market – and continues to grow.
Research for Energy-Efficient Cooking
Three German partners from industry and research are joining forces in a quest to curb one of the worst energy guzzlers in the household and to introduce energy efficiency to the kitchen. Use of the induction cooking method – where only pots and pans are heated and not the stovetop – could save up to 25 percent electricity.
High speed for stable electricity
Whether in the induction cooker or in electric welding: transistors have to switch at lightning speed and supply energy at the touch of a button. Infineon’s new generation of high-power chips now sees to this and also raises the efficiency of solar systems.
In future, Sri Lanka’s fishermen will catch prawns using robust, watertight LED lamps to help them fish at night. Infineon is supporting the project as an LED Light for you (LLFY) partner.
Electrostatic discharge protection
For microchips, electrostatic discharge events are akin to a stroke of lightning of many thousands of volts, damaging GPS modules, WLAN routers or active antennas alike. Infineon now offers energy-efficient transistors providing reliable discharge protection for wireless applications.
Computer centers manage enormous data streams. Millions of servers around the world guzzle vast amounts of energy. Infineon’s new power transistors optimize the power supply, reduce cooling demands and thus enhance energy efficiency.
Incandescent bulbs are becoming a thing of the past. In future, energy-saving LEDs will be used for residential lighting. Infineon’s high-performance circuits now tweak the LEDs to boost efficiency. At the same time they increase the light output ratio and save precious electricity.
