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ASML says it sold 'absolutely nothing' in Europe in 2026

402 points · 900 comments · MC995

  1. HPsquared · · focus · HN ↗
    Semiconductor fabs involve a lot of hazardous chemicals, process changes and high energy consumption. Exactly the kind of thing European regulations tend to deter or slow down. Which is somewhat fine if there is nowhere else to build it, but if other places are easier, well...
    1. piltdownman · · focus · HN ↗
      I mean Ireland has some of the most strenuous regulations in this regard, with dozens of data centres blocked over planning and environmental impact assessments. Despite this Intel still put €30 billion in turning a 360-acre former stud farm in Kildare into a semiconductor wafer fabrication facility, powered entirely by green energy, and acting a key location for production of Intel’s 14nm process technology. They currently pull 1,677,197 MWh/year from our grid.

      More to the point, from 2019 they built €17 billion new fab development which doubled the manufacturing capacity available in Ireland and enabled the production of Intel 4, the company’s most advanced process technology.

      1. upupupandaway · · focus · HN ↗
        >construction kicked off in 2019 on a €17 billion new fab development which will double

        I think what the OP wanted to highlight is right here: in China or Taiwan etc. this would not have taken 7 years.

        1. piltdownman · · focus · HN ↗
          I mixed up a tense or two there. It was done in 4 years, even accounting for Covid. The timeline looks like this

          2019: Kick-off

          2020: Construction in Ireland basically halted due to Lockdown for 18 months

          Q3'2023: Fab 34 begins running a ‘First Full Loop’ of silicon

          Q4'2023: Fab 34 completed. Doubles the manufacturing capacity available in Ireland, enabling the production of Intel 4 and Intel 3, some of the company’s most advanced process technologies, and the first to incorporate EUV lithography

          2024: Intel sold 49% stake to Apollo GM for $11.2bn

          2026: Intel buys back stake for $14.2bn

          Q2'2026: Intel announce a further $5.7bn investment to upgrade existing capacity for server chips, slated for completion by late 2027

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