Apple operations now powered by 100% clean renewable energy

Apple has announced that its global business operations are now powered by 100 percent renewable energy sources. This has been a longtime goal for Apple, considering its extensive investment in renewable energy and upgrades to its supply chain and physical infrastructure. Just two years ago, the company was running its worldwide operations with 93 percent renewable energy. However, there is a catch to this achievement.

This comes one week after Google announced it now purchases more renewable energy than its global energy consumption. However, like Google, not all of Apple’s global energy consumption is initially created by wind, solar, or other renewable sources. In order to offset this, Apple purchases what are known as Renewable Energy Certificates, or REC’s, which are a tradeable commodity that guarantees the use of clean energy sources. This, along with investments in solar, wind, and other clean facilities around the globe ensures that operations are run on 100 percent clean energy.

Apple is one of the leaders in renewable energy in the tech industry, and its approach towards building a sustainable future is different from competitors. Apple is a company that is always seeking to fund and build its own energy projects, with over two thirds of its energy needs provided for with these in-house projects. In the company’s Environmental Responsibility Report, Apple states “In cases where we aren’t able to create new renewable energy projects ourselves due to local constraints, we directly purchase renewable energy from newer projects in nearby markets, or through available utility green energy programs.”

In the meantime, Apple is working hard to make sure every office, retail store, data center and manufacturing facility is operating on 100 percent clean energy. Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a statement “We’re going to keep pushing the boundaries of what is possible with the materials in our products, the way we recycle them, our facilities and our work with suppliers to establish new creative and forward-looking sources of renewable energy because we know the future depends on it.”

Apple currently has over 25 operational renewable energy products around the world, with the capability of producing over 600 megawatts of energy. In addition, the company has 15 more projects currently undergoing construction that when done will be capable of producing 1.4 gigawatts of clean renewable energy, spread across 11 countries. These projects include wind farms, solar arrays, biogas fuel cells, and micro-hydration generation systems. Apple’s investment into clean energy sources are an important step in building a more sustainable future for the world.