Taiwan’s ambition to become a leader in sustainable manufacturing is being realized through landmark projects like TSMC’s Zero Waste Manufacturing Center in Tai-chung Science Park. At the core of this transformation is Pacific Engineers and Constructors Ltd. (PECL), originally established as a joint venture with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and now a wholly owned subsidiary of Bechtel, a world-leading EPC company. PECL supplies the technical expertise vital to the miracle of Taiwan’s economic development and provides integrated engineering solutions that set new standards in circular economy infrastructure.

PECL’s TSMC Spent Solvent Thermal Recovery Project (STRP), completed in July 2024, marks a major step forward in zero-waste engineering. As the EPC contractor, PECL was responsible for the detailing, engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning of the project’s overall integration, which disposes of waste organic solvents and simultaneously recovers their internal thermal energy, repurposing it as low-pressure steam for downstream users, including isopropanol (IPA) recovery. It also enables the production of high-purity recycled chemicals that can be reused in semiconductor manufacturing processes, supporting a closed-loop materials ecosystem.

“It’s a very difficult process because it is the first project of this type in Taiwan,” says Manager of Thermal Power Business Line Manager, Dr. Jack Wu, a legacy division of PECL providing comprehensive services from planning and engineering to plant operation for the power industry. “TSMC’s internal target is zero landfill, and they are asking how to make waste into a valuable product.”

The facility meets TSMC’s stringent standards by enabling circular reuse of process chemicals while minimizing environmental impact. It comprises four core functional areas: solvent storage, combustion, thermal recovery, and emissions treatment — all integrated into one cohesive system that ensures both operational efficiency and environmental compliance. This integrated model has laid the groundwork for replication, with TSMC already planning similar facilities in Hsinchu, the Southern Taiwan Science Park, and overseas fabs.

PECL President Dr. Oliver Su says that the project presented highly complex engineering challenges. “The solvent is unstable and flammable,” he says. “We had to prepare for process safety — explosion risks, flaring control, safety valve design, pressure relief systems — and still meet high-efficiency requirements for thermal recovery.”

PECL applied comprehensive design tools and strategies, including 3D modeling, Building Information Modeling (BIM), process simulation, and risk assessment. “We did a lot of simulations with fluid dynamics and heat balance analysis,” says Dr. Wu. “Every component was modeled in 3D, including structural design, architectural layout, major equipment, process piping, and even air quality control systems.”

To ensure reliability and ease of maintenance, the team used multi-disciplinary BIM to conduct clash checks, space optimization, and human-factor-based layout planning. “For example, if a pump or valve needs to be replaced, how do you access it and what’s the emergency response procedure?” says Dr. Wu. “We built in safeguards and contingencies.”

Beyond the engineering execution, PECL emphasizes integration. The facility is connected to downstream systems such as IPA purification, forming an ecosystem that captures, recycles, and reuses process chemicals within the manufacturing park. “We are the integrator for upstream and downstream,” he says. “Instead of clients coordinating multiple packages, we manage everything — mechanical, electrical, I&C, process safety, commissioning, and automation.”

This project is just one example of PECL’s expanding roles in Taiwan’s green transition. The company is involved in natural gas combined cycle, offshore wind, waste-to-energy, and is preparing feasibility studies for carbon capture systems. PECL is also supporting semiconductor clients with energy recovery, hydrogen production systems, and low-carbon solutions for future fabs.

In parallel, PECL is helping shape Taiwan’s high-performance computing infrastructure and technology-driven industrial upgrades. The company has participated in landmark AI projects such as the first three phases of Google’s data center turnkey development and is currently executing the design and engineering of Taiwan’s first AI computing center at Foxconn’s Kaohsiung Cloud Technology Park.

In the energy transition space, PECL continues to contribute to critical infrastructure for nuclear and thermal power, as well as renewable energy through wind installations, substations, and incineration plants. This broad-based engagement positions the company as a key enabler of Taiwan’s long-term sustainable transformation.

“Our job is to deliver complex projects that meet sustainability, safety, and technical performance,” says Dr. Wu. “But we also look at the long-term and how this fits into carbon reduction and future environmental policy.” The company is not just building facilities; it’s helping its clients meet their 2050 net-zero emissions goals.

PECL is proving that Taiwan’s engineering sector can deliver cutting-edge solutions for some of the world’s most demanding sustainability challenges. “The government is encouraging the circular economy,” says Dr. Su. “But the client’s demand is the driver. They need results, and we help them get there.”