GlobalFoundries’ Immanuel Edward John Alwin advances energy management
He has also supported efforts to foster a sense of purpose and commitment among employees to company’s sustainability goals
IMMANUEL Edward John Alwin has led some of GlobalFoundries Singapore’s most impactful energy-saving projects in the Republic, cutting consumption and emissions while driving long-term efficiency gains.
As the company’s energy manager, John Alwin oversees energy policy, goal-setting and project execution across the company’s 200 mm and 300 mm fabrication plants. His work supports GlobalFoundries’ objective to reduce electricity-use intensity by 34 per cent from 2020 levels by 2025, while also exploring market opportunities to achieve 100 per cent carbon-neutral power by 2050.
From 2021 to 2024, he was involved in 28 energy-saving initiatives that have contributed to significant improvements in energy performance and energy-use intensity.
These included the introduction of electric heat pumps to replace diesel-fired hot water boilers, saving 8.2 gigawatt-hours (GWh) annually and reducing diesel consumption on campus by 95 per cent, and chilled water system optimisation, which improved efficiency by 10 per cent and cut 4.8 GWh per year.
Another initiative to optimise the gas plant using predictive algorithms and real-time monitoring resulted in annual savings of 100,000 kilowatt-hours.
Among these, the Chiller Optimisation Project has been the most complex – technically and logistically. “It required seamless coordination across cross-functional teams and external suppliers, given the critical nature of the chiller systems to fab operations,” says John Alwin.
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To manage risks, the team adopted a phased implementation strategy and integrated predictive maintenance technologies. “This approach allowed us to enhance system reliability while minimising disruptions,” he explains. The project, scheduled for completion in 2026, is expected to deliver an estimated 28 GWh in annual energy savings.
John Alwin has also supported awareness-building efforts within GlobalFoundries. These efforts, which include Earth Week campaigns and quizzes, sustainability-themed video campaigns and tree-planting activities, have helped engage employees across the organisation in environmental stewardship.
“Beyond technical solutions, GlobalFoundries is committed to cultivating a culture of environmental stewardship across all levels of the organisation,” he adds. “These efforts have helped make concepts like energy efficiency and decarbonisation more relatable and actionable, fostering a shared sense of purpose and commitment to our sustainability goals.”
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For his contributions, John Alwin received the Outstanding Energy, Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Manager Award at the Energy Efficiency National Partnership (EENP) Awards 2025. Looking ahead, he is focused on the commissioning of upgraded chiller systems, which are expected to deliver further energy savings in the years ahead.
He says: “Once completed, the upgrades are expected to exceed the National Environment Agency’s Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards.”
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