Apple’s newly completed renewable projects, part of the company’s planned $4.7 billion Green Bond spend, are bringing clean energy to local communities while reducing carbon emissions.
In 2020, Apple funded 17 Green Bond projects that aim to avoid an average of 921,000 metric tons of carbon emissions annually. The projects will generate 1.2 gigawatts of renewable energy globally, with Apple adding over 350 megawatts of newly installed renewable energy over the last year in Nevada, Illinois, Virginia, and Denmark. Apple’s Green Bond issuances are among the largest in the private sector. Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives noted:
“Apple is dedicated to protecting the planet we all share with solutions that are supporting the communities where we work. We all have a responsibility to do everything we can to fight against the impacts of climate change, and our $4.7 billion investment of the proceeds from our Green Bond sales is an important driver in our efforts. Ultimately, clean power is good business.”
Since the climate change agreement at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris, Apple has invested the proceeds from three issuances of Green Bonds to support global efforts in carbon emissions reductions.
In February 2016, the company issued its first $1.5 billion Green Bond, following up with its second round of $1 billion (June 2017). In November 2019, Apple issued its third set of Green Bonds and its first in Europe, with two bonds each at 1 billion euros. In addition to those detailed in Apple’s Green Bond Impact Report, the company has continued funding new projects that support low carbon design and engineering, renewable energy, carbon mitigation, and carbon sequestration.
Last July, the company uncovered its plan to become carbon neutral across its entire business, manufacturing supply chain, and product life cycle by 2030. Apple is already carbon neutral today for its global corporate operations, and this new commitment means that by 2030, every Apple device sold will have a net-zero climate impact.
Here are the Latest Investments in Renewable Energy that Apple has made:
- Onsite solar project outside of Reno, Nevada
This is a 180-acre site located within the Reno Technology Park that is now providing power to Apple’s Nevada data centre. The project is known as “Utility-Scale Project of the Year” and has created 236 clean energy construction jobs of which more than 90% were filled by Nevada residents. This site is delivering 50 megawatts of renewable power to Apple, joining the company’s three other Nevada projects that deliver 270 megawatts.
Apple’s Reno data centre. Photo credits: Apple Newsroom
- Wind farm outside of Chicago:
A 112-megawatt virtual power purchase agreement with this wind farm in Illinois covers Apple’s electricity use in the Chicago region. This project aggregated buyers, enabling other companies with less purchasing power to access the same high-quality renewable energy as Apple.
- Solar project in Fredericksburg, Virginia:
Apple worked with Etsy, Akamai and SwissRE through an innovative agreement to support the development of 165 megawatts of renewable power through a solar photovoltaic project outside Fredericksburg, Virginia, which is now delivering energy to the broader electric grid in the region.
Apple Turquoise Solar Project. Photo Credits: Apple Newsroom
- Largest onshore wind turbines in Denmark:
Apple has completed the construction of two of the world’s largest onshore wind turbines, a source of clean, renewable energy that is now operational. Located near the Danish town of Esbjerg, the 200-meter-tall turbines are expected to produce 62 gigawatt-hours each year and will act as a test site for powerful offshore wind turbines. The power produced at Esbjerg will support Apple’s data centre in Viborg.
Apple’s onshore wind turbines near Esbjerg. Photo Credits: Apple Newsroom
Apple’s annual impact report covers environmental projects that incurred spend between September 29, 2019, and September 26, 2020 — Apple’s 2020 fiscal year.
