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Renewable energy

Apple Expands Renewables Investment in Europe to Reach 2030 Carbon Neutrality Goal

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Apple, the US tech giant, is investing in several large-scale solar and wind farms across Europe as part of its efforts to cut the carbon footprint caused by customers powering and charging its devices. These projects, which are currently in development in Greece, Italy, Latvia, Romania, and Poland, will provide electricity directly to the grids in their respective countries, contributing to Apple's corporate climate goals. By 2030, Apple aims to match 100% of the electricity used by its customers in Europe to power or charge their devices, and this new clean power capacity will help the company reach this goal.

Key Takeaways:

  • Apple is investing in several large-scale solar and wind farms across Europe to support its 2030 carbon neutrality goal.
  • The company aims to match 100% of the electricity used by its customers in Europe to power or charge their devices by 2030.
  • Apple estimates that it will need to bring online 3,000 GWh of renewable energy a year to reach its 2030 ambitions in Europe.
  • The projects announced on Tuesday will meet a third of this by generating more than 1,000 GWh a year, Apple said.
  • Apple is prioritizing projects in regions and countries where it can maximize the impact, such as Poland, which has a higher carbon intensity grid compared to some of its neighbors.
  • The company has already invested in several projects, including the Castano solar farm outside the Spanish city of Segovia, which can power around 76,500 households.
  • Apple's vice president of environment, policy, and social initiatives, Lisa Jackson, said that the company welcomes scrutiny of its environmental claims and is trying to be as transparent as possible about its efforts to become carbon neutral.
  • Apple has come under scrutiny for its environmental claims amid concerns over some of the nature-based projects in which it invested to offset emissions.

Statistics:

  • Electricity used to charge devices accounted for about 29% of Apple's overall greenhouse gas emissions in 2024.
  • Apple estimates that it will need to bring online 3,000 GWh of renewable energy a year to reach its 2030 ambitions in Europe.
  • The projects announced on Tuesday will generate more than 1,000 GWh a year.
  • Apple's involvement in the projects announced on Tuesday has helped to unlock $600 million in financing.
  • Apple has signed long-term agreements to procure power from several projects, including a 110MW solar project in Greece and a 129MW portfolio of wind and solar projects in Italy.

Sources:

  • BBC News: "Apple expands renewables investment in Europe"
  • PA News Agency: "Apple announces major expansion of renewables investment in Europe"
  • Apple: "Apple 2030: Our plan to become carbon neutral"

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