How much energy does it take to make an iPhone?

Have you ever thought about the amount of energy it takes to create a device as complex as a modern cellphone? It's easy to take our devices for granted, but the reality is that the process of manufacturing and assembling them requires a significant amount of energy.

To start with, the production of a new cellphone requires the extraction and processing of numerous raw materials, such as aluminium, copper, lithium, and rare earth metals. The extraction and processing of these materials typically involve energy-intensive processes, such as mining, refining, and smelting.

Once the raw materials are obtained, they are transported to manufacturing facilities where they are transformed into the components that make up the phone. This process involves a combination of machine tooling, chemical processes, and assembly line work, all of which require a significant amount of energy to operate.

One of the most energy-intensive stages in cellphone production process is the creation of the microchips that power the device. Microchips are made up of layers of different materials, each of which must be precisely deposited onto the chip's surface using a technique known as photolithography. This process requires extremely precise equipment and generates a lot of heat, which in turn requires significant amounts of energy to manage.

Once all of the components are created, they are assembled into a finished product. This involves a combination of manual and automated processes, such as soldering, gluing, and screwing in screws, which all require energy to power.

The energy required to create each device is not limited to the manufacturing process itself. It also includes the energy required to transport the raw materials and finished product around the world. Most of the raw materials used in cellphone production are sourced from countries like China, Australia, and Brazil and are then transported to manufacturing facilities located in countries like Taiwan and China. Once assembled, the finished phones are then shipped to retailers around the world, again requiring significant amounts of energy to transport them.

So, how much energy does it take to create an iPhone? According to a study conducted by the University of California, Berkeley, the total energy required to produce a single iPhone 14 is equivalent to about 178 kWh. This is roughly the same amount of energy that an average western household consumes in a week.

In conclusion, the amount of energy required to create a modern smartphone is significant, and it's something that we should be aware of as consumers. By understanding the energy footprint of the devices we use every day, we can make more informed choices about our consumption habits and take steps to reduce our environmental impact - like choosing not to buy new and keeping those older devices going :)