On Tuesday (Nov. 10), TSMC has approved capital appropriations of $46 million to set up a production line and product development lab for solid state lighting.

This implies that it is looking at LED production. It is unclear if TSMC (Hsinchu) will devise LEDs on a foundry basis. The company did not elaborate on its intentions.

On Tuesday, TSMC has approved capital appropriations of US$2.240 billion to expand advanced technology capacity for 300-mm wafer fabs, and increase 300-mm capacity for wafer level chip scale packaging process. It also approved capital appropriations of $254.6 million to expand 300-mm wafer fab facilities.

The company is looking at the energy sector for good reason. In August, TSMC approved the appropriation of $50 million for ''possible use'' in investment in solar energy-related areas.