Apple reveals major investment plans in clean energy; teams up with CleanMax in India
Apple has revealed its intention to increase its use of clean energy worldwide as part of the ‘Apple 2030’ initiative, which aims to achieve carbon neutrality throughout its entire value chain by 2030. Despite already relying on over 18 gigawatts of clean electricity for its global operations and supply chain, the tech company based in Cupertino is now focusing on expanding its investment in solar power in the US and Europe.
Apple signs a joint venture with CleanMax
In India, Apple has signed a joint venture with CleanMax to invest in a portfolio of six rooftop solar projects totaling 14.4 megawatts. “The added capacity provides a local solution to power Apple’s offices, its two retail stores and other operations in India. Apple first achieved 100 percent renewable energy for its global operations in 2018,” an Apple statement said.
As part of its broader environmental efforts, Apple also moved toward another ambitious 2030 goal: to replenish 100 percent of the fresh water used by businesses in stressed locations.
In the states of Telangana and Maharashtra, Apple has started fresh water refilling in some of the “highest stress locations” where the company operates. Last year, Apple achieved its goal of 100 percent water replenishment for the company’s corporate operations in India through continued collaboration with the Uptime Catalyst Facility. “By 2023, Apple’s support provided 23 million gallons of clean, affordable drinking water to communities from more than 300 water kiosks operated by local entrepreneurs in an innovative performance-based program,” it added.
Apple’s smart water management
In addition to pursuing watershed restoration and other nature-based replenishment solutions in stressed areas, Apple claims to be committed to “smart water management” across the business.
In 2021, Apple’s data center in Prineville, Oregon became the first data center certified to the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) International Water Stewardship Standard, a trusted global framework for measuring responsible water stewardship. Since then, Apple has certified four more data centers to the standard and also supported 20 vendor sites in achieving certification.
Over the past year, seven supplier facilities in southern India and more than 20 supplier locations near Shanghai and Suzhou, China have participated in water management training with AWS and other industry players.
“Clean energy and water are the foundation of healthy communities and the building blocks of responsible business. We’re racing toward our ambitious Apple 2030 climate goals while embarking on long-term work to transform power grids and restore waterways to build a cleaner future for everyone,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s director of environmental, policy and social initiatives. .
