Air Liquide to build green gas hub in Germany for EU chips

Industrial gas major Air Liquide will build three air separation units, two hydrogen production units, and associated infrastructure in Germany’s “Silicon Saxony” in the city of Dresden to support the European semiconductor industry.

Supplying ultra-pure nitrogen, oxygen, argon, hydrogen, helium, and carbon dioxide in the European hub, the facility will produce most of the carrier gases for semiconductor manufacturing on-site, reducing emissions from gas transportation.

The facility is also expected to operate on 100% renewable electricity.

Air Liquide hopes the site hopes to be operational in 2027.

Emilie Mouren-Renouard, who oversees Air Liquide’s activities in Europe, said the investment strengthens Air Liquide’s position as a European supplier to the semiconductor industry.

“Supporting customers in developing future technologies across Europe while reducing their carbon footprint is central to our strategy,” she said.

Each of the new production units will utilise new digital technologies, standardisation, and modularisation to ensure reliability and quality of supply.

In July 2023, the European Council approved the EU Chips Act in a bid to double the EU’s global market share in semiconductors, from 10% to at least 20% by 2030.

First announced in February 2022, the Chips Act wants to mobilise €43bn in public and private investment, with €3.3bn coming from the EU budget.

With this, the EU hopes to become an industrial base for the semiconductor market, attract further investment, promote research and innovation, and prepare for any future chip supply crisis.