News TSMC Reportedly Plans to Build Five Additional Fabs in Arizona by 2024

[Admin]

TSMC reportedly plans to build a total of six fabs—five more than anticipated—in Arizona over the next three years.

TSMC Reportedly Plans to Build Five Additional Fabs in Arizona by 2024 : Read more

 

[InvalidError]

A new 5nm fab that does only 20k WSPM? That would be among the lowest throughput fabs in TSMC's arsenal. Must be a national security compliance thing or something else of a similar nature.

 

[gargoylenest]

I am wondering...they have stated the drought in Taiwan as a cause for diminished production, and they are building a new factory in a state that is known to have drought condition in the last 15 years?

 

[spongiemaster]

According to this report, TSMC‘s plans to expand resulted from a request from the U.S. government, which has sought to reduce its reliance on foreign companies for its semiconductor supply chain

Hopefully, no one tells the gov't the "T" in TSMC does not stand for Tucson.

 

[InvalidError]

I am wondering...they have stated the drought in Taiwan as a cause for diminished production, and they are building a new factory in a state that is known to have drought condition in the last 15 years?

If you know the area you are going to operate in is susceptible to droughts, you can build accordingly and it could be part of the reason why this new fab announcement is for what appears to be a very small fab based on WSPM. TSMC's Taiwanese fabs were built a while ago and the severe droughts are a recent development that TSMC and Taiwan in general will need to adapt to.

Water shortages appear to be the new normal across half the globe thanks to less rain and most of the rain it gets coming down all at once.

 

[gargoylenest]

If you know the area you are going to operate in is susceptible to droughts, you can build accordingly and it could be part of the reason why this new fab announcement is for what appears to be a very small fab based on WSPM. TSMC's Taiwanese fabs were built a while ago and the severe droughts are a recent development that TSMC and Taiwan in general will need to adapt to.

Water shortages appear to be the new normal across half the globe thanks to less rain and most of the rain it gets coming down all at once.

I understand that, but still, they know their fabs need steady water supply; why not go to somewhere where water supply is not an issue? according to your statement, that still leave the other half of the globe ... must have some awesome tax discount and subsidies to establish there? Or they plan on sucking the silicon valley brains?

 

[InvalidError]

I understand that, but still, they know their fabs need steady water supply; why not go to somewhere where water supply is not an issue? according to your statement, that still leave the other half of the globe

Water isn't the only thing fabs need. They also need heaps of power, access to materials, access to equipment, access to transport, access to qualified labor, access to clients and geologically stable ground. TSMC wants most of its fabs in Taiwan because that's where it has access to nearly everything at once as most of its major clients and suppliers are on the island too.

BTW, non-salty water is actually quite rare and is getting rarer with climate change causing rain to drop in different places, quantities and times, leaving reservoir levels much lower than normal. For example, California is entering its dry season with 1/6th of its average rainwater reserve. Precipitations across most of NA over the last year were significantly below average with (severe) drought forecasts for most of the center-west areas. Water shortages aren't exclusive to Taiwan.

Many analysts predict we'll be seeing wars over access to drinkable water soon. Even VP Harris has said the next major wars will be over water instead of oil.

 

[gargoylenest]

Water isn't the only thing fabs need. They also need heaps of power, access to materials, access to equipment, access to transport, access to qualified labor, access to clients and geologically stable ground. TSMC wants most of its fabs in Taiwan because that's where it has access to nearly everything at once as most of its major clients and suppliers are on the island too.

BTW, non-salty water is actually quite rare and is getting rarer with climate change causing rain to drop in different places, quantities and times, leaving reservoir levels much lower than normal. For example, California is entering its dry season with 1/6th of its average rainwater reserve. Precipitations across most of NA over the last year were significantly below average with (severe) drought forecasts for most of the center-west areas. Water shortages aren't exclusive to Taiwan.

Many analysts predict we'll be seeing wars over access to drinkable water soon. Even VP Harris has said the next major wars will be over water instead of oil.

you must live near equator to say that. Move north or south and fresh water is not rare. Brazil, Russia, Canada and China account for half of earth freshwater reserve. A hint to prevent going into a war over freshwater...dont live in a desert

 

[InvalidError]

you must live near equator to say that. Move north or south and fresh water is not rare. Brazil, Russia, Canada and China account for half of earth freshwater reserve. A hint to prevent going into a war over freshwater...dont live in a desert

Precipitations in Canada have been on a slow but steady decline for the last 20 years. Snow melt is a significant contributor to steady fresh water supply through a good chunk of summer and there won't be much of that happening if winters don't get cold enough for mountains to hold their snow and ice. Springs usually bring river overflows through much of Ontario and Quebec but last winter was too hot and 70cm (35%) short on snowfall, so nothing major happened.

Just because much of Canada does not have immediate water supply issues does not mean they aren't coming. There will likely be more calls than usual to reduce water usage this summer.