Apple now powers all its offices, buildings, stores, and data centers worldwide with 100% renewable energy. This includes sites in the U.S., U.K., China, India, and 40+ other countries . Moreover, nine new Apple suppliers, bringing the total to 23, committed to using only clean energy .
Major Renewable Projects
Apple and its partners built large solar farms, wind farms, biogas fuel cells, micro‑hydro systems, and battery storage systems . For example, Apple Park in Cupertino has a 17 MW rooftop solar array plus biogas cells and battery storage . Also, Apple operates 25 clean‐energy projects totaling 626 MW, with 15 more underway. Once complete, they will generate 1.4 GW across 11 countries .
These projects represent a diverse range of energy sources, solar arrays and wind farms as well as emerging technologies like biogas fuel cells, micro-hydro generation systems and energy storage technologies.
Apple currently has 25 operational renewable energy projects around the world, totaling 626 megawatts of generation capacity, with 286 megawatts of solar PV generation. It also has 15 more projects in construction. Once built, over 1.4 gigawatts of clean renewable energy generation will spread across 11 countries.
Apple HQ Cupertino
Apple’s new headquarters in Cupertino runs on 100 percent renewable energy. In part, from a 17-megawatt onsite rooftop solar installation.
Since 2014, all of Apple’s data centers have been powered by 100 percent renewable energy. And since 2011, all of Apple’s renewable energy projects have reduced greenhouse gas emissions (CO2e) by 54 percent from its facilities worldwide . They’ve also prevented nearly 2.1 million metric tons of CO2e from entering the atmosphere.
Apple’s renewable energy projects include:
Supplier Clean‑Energy Push
Apple invited its suppliers to join its renewable goal. Today, 23 suppliers now power production of Apple products using 100% clean energy . As a result, their clean energy efforts avoided over 1.5 million metric tons of CO₂ in 2017 . Additionally, Apple launched a Clean Energy Portal to support more supplier transitions .
Apple grows
In addition and reported in November 2019, Apple announced that it’s expanding operations in Austin, Texas. All with the start of construction on a new campus. The new facility will cost $1 billion and cover 3-million-square-feet.
The new campus will initially house 5,000 employees from 2022. That’s with a capacity upgrade to accommodate 15,000 employees later on. When the work is complete, the 15,000 employees will join the already existing 7,000 employees. Thereby bringing the total to 22,000.
In addition, Apple also mentioned the manufacturing of the new Mac Pro, due in December. That’s just a short distance away from the planned campus. The Mac Pro facility currently employees over 500 people. All who work in a range of electrical engineering and electronic assembly.
In a bid to improve its green credentials, Apple also announces that the new campus will be home to native trees. The company is partnering with Austin-based Bartlett Tree Experts. That’s to help preserve and increase the native tree stocks. The firm said the trees that have been planned represent a “significant” increase over the number. One that was on the site before construction started.
In conclusion and according to the latest plans, 60 percent of the campus will be a green space. Included in the 60 percent figure is a 50-acre nature and wildlife preserve. One which will be open to the public. Lastly, Apple mentioned that the Austin campus will run on 100% renewable energy. Finally, some of which will be sourced by on-site solar panels.
