Microchip PoE Powers Sustainability

Microchip’s Commitment to Sustainability and Innovation

Microchip is a leading provider of smart, connected and secure embedded control and processing solutions. Our solutions serve more than 123,000 customers across the industrial, automotive, consumer, communications and computing markets. Headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, we offer outstanding technical support along with dependable delivery and quality. Our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program is designed to align our company values and sustainability objectives as we strive to serve as a good corporate citizen, especially in the communities in which we operate.

Sustainability considerations impact design for a broad and expanding array of technologies. We offer hardware, software and development tools that empower people to create products that improve the sustainability of the global environment for humanity.

Microchip continues to make progress off our sustainability pledging to be net zero in greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. The focus on sustainability within our offerings have been applied to a wide array of applications. Among these are energy generation, storage and distribution. The Microchip Power over Ethernet (PoE) business unit has participated in this effort since it first introduced PoE.  More information is available in the Microchip 2023 Sustainability Report.

Sustainability considerations impact design for a broad and expanding array of technologies. We offer hardware, software and development tools that empower you to create products that improve the sustainability of the global environment for humanity.

Power over Ethernet

Power over Ethernet is the ability to provide both power and data over an Ethernet cable run of up to 100 meters. First introduced by in 1997 by PowerDsine, today our Power over Ethernet business unit has offered some unique characteristics. Recognizing that power efficiency is important, PoE provides power only when requested. It also provides only the exact amount of power requested, and when no longer required, it stops delivering power.

While no power source is totally energy efficient, PoE’s approach to delivering energy was a major step forward.  Since that time, there has been a worldwide priority to make the delivery of energy more efficient.

Energy Efficiency Standards

Governments all around the world have established energy efficiency standards to encourage manufacturers to produce more energy efficient devices.  One of the most widely recognized programs is the Energy Star program in the United States administered by the Environmental Protection Agency. The program awards a logo to devices that meet their standards for energy efficiency that reduce consumption.

The program has been in place for more than 20 years and has improved those standards over the years. In October of 2023 they released their latest set of standards, Energy Star 7.

Microchip PoE Powers Sustainability

The latest energy efficiency standards, as defined by the ENERGY STAR^® program, reduce energy consumption by ensuring a minimal amount of energy is consumed when a power supply is in the “No Load” state—not delivering electricity. Our PoE midspans have already addressed this concern in our multiport units with the ability to turn off ports when not in use. For single-port units, we are redesigning the units to comply with the latest ENERGY STAR standards. In February, we recently introduced a new line of indoor single-port 1 Gbps midspans designated the “Green Sustainable” or “GS” series. Initially offering a 15.4W, 30W and 60W units—and soon after a 90W unit—all based on 802.3af/at/bt standards, the PoE business unit contributes to our sustainability efforts.

With plans to redesign all the single port units for all environments and data rates, these efforts will continue. In addition, designers are looking to incorporate unique ideas and features to surpass energy efficiency requirements of today and the future. 

To learn more about all of our midspans, please visit the PoE systems web page.