Apple powers ahead in new renewable energy solutions with over 110 suppliers

A new energy storage project highlights Apple’s efforts to become carbon neutral for its supply chain and products by 2030.

Apple has announced that over 110 of its manufacturing partners globally are moving to 100% renewable energy for their Apple production. Once completed, these commitments will reduce over 15 million metric tonnes of CO2 annually – the equivalent of taking 3.4 million cars of the road each year.  

Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president for Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives, said: “We are firmly committed to helping our suppliers become carbon neutral by 2030 and are thrilled that companies who’ve joined us span industries and countries around the world, including Germany, China, the US, India and France.”

“In a year like no other, Apple continued to work with a global network of colleagues, companies and advocates to help make out environmental efforts and everything we do a force of good for people’s lives – and to work alongside the communities most impacted by climate change.”

In July last year, Apple unveiled its plan to become carbon neutral across the whole business, manufacturing supply chain and product life cycle by 2030. Since them, Apple has increased the number of its suppliers that are transitioning to renewable energy.

Apple’s global corporate operations are already carbon neutral, and this new commitment means that by 2030, there will be a net zero climate impact for every Apple device sold.

The company is also educating suppliers through advanced and customised training with leading experts, and introducing them to resources and training material with country-specific information to guide them through their transition.

In many markets that Apple operate in, suppliers have limited access to clean energy options. To break down this barrier, Apple has created the China Clean Energy Fund, enabling both Apple and its suppliers to invest in clean energy projects totalling to more than 1 GW of renewable energy in China.

Apple is also constructing California Flats – one of the largest batter projects in the US. An industry-leading, grid-scale energy storage project, it has the capability of storing 240 megawatt-hours of energy, enough to power more than 7,000 homes for a day. This project supports the company’s 130-megawatt solar farm that provides all of its renewable energy in California, through storing excess energy to be deployed when it is most needed. The company is also investing in utility-scale storage in California, and research into new energy storage technologies.

Even as Apple’s net revenue has increased, it has still seen consistent reduction in its carbon footprint, decreasing by 40%. It has avoided over 15 million metric tonnes of emissions through low-carbon initiatives that drive energy efficiency, helping the company make steady progress to meet its 2030 targets.

Photograph: Apple