Apple today announced that 110 of its suppliers and partners around the world are approaching the goal of being 100% powered by renewable energy. This feat means that nearly 8 gigabits of electricity from renewable sources will soon go to the production of Apple products. Once the transition is complete the emission of more than 15 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent will be avoidedFigures comparable to the decommissioning of more than 3.4 million cars each year.
A common goal that gets closer and closer
Apple has set itself the goal of making its entire supply chain 100% neutral on carbon by 2030, a more than ambitious objective that they are already on the right track to achieve. Since announcing their intentions last July, companies around the world have joined an initiative that is undoubtedly more than welcome.
“We are strongly committed to helping our suppliers become carbon neutral by 2030 and we are delighted that the companies that have joined us span sectors and countries around the world, such as Germany, China, states -United India and France, ”said Lisa. Jackson, Apple’s vice president for the environment, policy and social initiatives. “In a year like no other, Apple has continued to work with a global network of colleagues, businesses and advocates – including the communities most affected by climate change – to help us do it all. what we do a force for the good of the people. life and the environment. “
Remember that Apple is already carbon neutral for all your operationsHowever, the goal for 2030 is for its entire supply chain to join this mode of operation. Thus, all the products manufactured by the company will have no climate impact on our planet. At the same time, Apple has allocated around $ 4.7 billion to support environmental projects.
Support for service providers in a necessary transition
Apple is constantly developing new tools so that your suppliers can achieve their objectives on renewable energies and bring new clean energies to communities around the world. In Europe, the DSM Engineering Materials wind power purchase agreement brings new clean energy to the grid in the Netherlands, and the STMicroelectronics solar car park in Morocco supports regional power generation.
Companies like Solvay are expanding the use of renewable energy in their operations after joining Apple’s Clean Energy for Suppliers program five years ago. In the United States, Alpha and Omega Semiconductor, Marian, The Chemours Company and Trinseo recently joined the program. And, in China, more than 15 suppliers have joined Apple’s program in the past six months.
It is clear that Apple’s experience in a transition that the company itself has already made is invaluable to all companies in the industry. Apple offers advanced education and training with world-class experts and supports the creation and growth of industry associations to which different suppliers can join.
Apple’s expertise in the use of renewable energy is invaluable to the rest of the supply chain.
In China, for example, several suppliers struggled to access clean energy, so Apple created the China Clean Energy Fund, which enabled these suppliers to invest in projects which translate into the generation of a gigabit of clean energy. The next objective of the company will be to focus on investments for storage solutions for this energy, which is very necessary for the success of renewable energies to be total.
Energy storage, the next step
California Flats is a grid-wide energy storage project that Apple is building in California. This infrastructure, one of the first of its kind, is capable of storing 240 megawatt hours of energy, enough to power over 7,000 homes for a day. This project works in conjunction with the company’s 130-megawatt solar farm by being able to store excess energy produced during the day and release and distribute it when demand increases.
New mechanisms for storing the energy produced by renewable energies are essential for its use and expansion.
We see how wind and solar power is one of the most cost effective clean energy sources in many parts of the world. However, the intermittent nature of these technologies is a barrier that projects like California Flats seek to offset. The truth is that the research and development of energy storage mechanisms produced by renewable energies offer a new viability for its use and expansion.
At Apple, they are aware of this and are investing in these storages, systems already in place in the Santa Clara Valley and in the Apple Park microgrid itself. With these measures and many more, Apple has reduced its carbon footprint by more than 40%, marking steady progress towards its 2030 target. A megaproject that, of course, will help us leave planet Earth better than we do. ‘ve found.
