Apple Spends $4.7 Billion For 1.2 Gigawatts Of Clean Power

Besides making some of the best smartphones and computers, Apple is also a staunch advocate of renewable resources. The company has a deep-rooted sentiment toward the effects of global warming, and is doing all it can to help reduce its impact. Cupertino’s newly completed renewable projects support this notion.

They are part of the company’s planned $4.7 billion Green Bond spend initiative, meant to bring clean energy to local communities and the company’s facilities. Apple funded 17 Green Bond projects in 2020, which saw the reduction of an average 921,000 metric tons of carbon emissions from being released into the environment.

This is supposed to be equivalent to the effect of having 200,000 cars on the road. Apple estimates that these projects generate 1.2 gigawatts of renewable energy globally. It also contributed 250 megawatts of renewable energy via similar projects in Nevada Illinois, Virginia and Denmark.

“Apple is dedicated to protecting the planet we all share with solutions that are supporting the communities where we work,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives. “Our $4.7 billion investment of the proceeds from our Green Bond sales is an important driver in our efforts.”

In February 2016, the company issued a $1.5 billion Green Bond, $1 billion in June 2017 and in Europe the company shelled out €1 billion. In total, Apple spent $2.2 billion USD on such renewable energy efforts. The company has also said that it has set aside $2.8 billion from its Green Bond to address carbon emissions issues.

These are some of said projects:

Onsite solar project outside of Reno, Nevada
It’s a 180-acre site located within the Reno Technology Park that prides power to Apple’s Nevada data center. It delivers 50 megawatts of power, but when combined with the company’s other Nevada projects, has a combined output of 270 megawatts.

Wind farm outside of Chicago
A 112-megawatt virtual power purchase agreement with this wind farm in Illinois covers Apple’s electricity use in the Chicago region.

Solar project in Fredericksburg, Virginia
Apple with Etsy, Akamai, and SwissRE work to support the development of 165 megawatts of renewable power through a solar photovoltaic project outside Fredericksburg, Virginia

Largest onshore wind turbines in Denmark
Located near the Danish town of Esbjerg, the facility comprises two of the world’s largest onshore wind turbines. The 200-meter-tall turbines are expected to produce 62 gigawatt hours each year. This is supposed to be enough to power close to 20,000 homes.

Apple’s annual impact report covers its entire efforts mentioned earlier. And if you would like to know more, The Green Bond Impact Report, Fiscal Year 2020 Update can be found at investor.apple.com