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Renewable energy

Apple Expands Renewables Investment in Europe to Reach 2030 Climate Goals

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Apple Inc is supporting large-scale solar and wind farms in Greece, Italy, Latvia, Romania, and Poland as part of its efforts to match 100% of the electricity used by its customers in Europe to power or charge their devices by 2030. The company's renewable energy projects will contribute towards its corporate climate goals, which include becoming carbon neutral across its entire value chain by the end of the decade. Apple's vice president of environment, policy and social initiatives, Lisa Jackson, stated that the new projects in Europe will help the company achieve its ambitious Apple 2030 goal, while contributing to healthy communities, thriving economies, and secure energy sources across the continent.

Key Takeaways:

  • Apple is expanding its renewables investment in Europe to support large-scale solar and wind farms in Greece, Italy, Latvia, Romania, and Poland, which will provide electricity directly to grids in their respective countries.
  • The projects announced on Tuesday will meet a third of Apple's annual renewable energy needs in Europe, generating over 1,000 gigawatt-hours of renewable energy a year.
  • Apple aims to bring online 3,000 gigawatt-hours of renewable energy a year to match the electricity customers use for charging in Europe, with the projects announced on Tuesday covering one-third of this target.
  • The company has recently come under scrutiny for its environmental claims amid concerns over some of the nature-based projects in which it invested to offset emissions.
  • Apple estimates that it will need to invest in renewable energy projects in regions and countries where it can maximise the impact, such as Poland, which has a higher carbon intensity grid compared with some of its neighbours.
  • The company has signed a long-term agreement to procure power from a 110 megawatt solar project in Greece and is also supporting the development of a 129 MW portfolio of wind and solar projects in Italy.
  • Apple has previously invested in the Castano solar farm outside the Spanish city of Segovia, which started operating earlier this year and can power around 76,500 households.

Statistics:

  • 29%: The percentage of Apple's overall greenhouse gas emissions in 2024 that came from the electricity used to charge devices.
  • 100%: Apple's target to match the electricity used by its customers in Europe, including the UK, to power or charge their devices by 2030.
  • 3,000 GWh/year: The amount of renewable energy Apple aims to bring online annually in Europe to meet its 2030 ambitions.
  • 1,000 GWh/year: The amount of renewable energy the new projects announced on Tuesday will generate annually, covering one-third of Apple's target.
  • 110 MW: The capacity of the solar project in Greece that Apple has signed a long-term agreement to procure power from.
  • 129 MW: The capacity of the portfolio of wind and solar projects in Italy that Apple is supporting the development of.
  • 40 MW: The capacity of the solar array in Poland that Apple is supporting.
  • 99 MW: The capacity of the wind farm in Romania's Galati County that Apple plans to procure power from.

Sources:

  • Apple's website (no date)
  • PA (no date)
  • Alliance News (September 18, 2024)

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