Apple today announced significant progress in its efforts to expand clean energy and advance water conservation globally as part of its ambitious environmental roadmap for 2030. Among the slew of new projects and partnerships revealed are renewable energy deployments and water replenishment work in India.
At the core of Apple’s announcement is an increase in clean electricity now powering its worldwide operations and supply chain to over 18 gigawatts – more than triple the amount in 2020. Notably, over 300 suppliers representing 95% of Apple’s direct manufacturing spend have transitioned to renewable energy sources for Apple production, resulting in 16.5 gigawatts of renewable capacity online in the company’s supply chain.
To address emissions from customers charging their devices, Apple has pledged to match every watt of charging electricity with clean energy by 2030. This commitment has spurred large-scale investments in new renewable capacity across multiple markets worldwide.
In India specifically, Apple is partnering with CleanMax, a leading renewable developer, on a joint venture to invest in a 14.4 megawatt portfolio of six rooftop solar projects. This localised renewable solution will help meet the power needs of Apple’s corporate offices, two retail stores, and other operations across the country.
India is also a key region for Apple’s water conservation work. The company achieved 100% water replenishment for its corporate operations in India last year through an innovative programme with Uptime Catalyst Facility that provided 23 million gallons of clean, affordable drinking water via over 300 community water kiosks.
Building on this, Apple unveiled new long-term partnerships aimed at replenishing freshwater sources in the high-stress Indian states of Telangana and Maharashtra. Part of over $8 million in new project funding, these initiatives are projected to deliver a combined 6.9 billion gallons of water benefits over 20 years through measures like restoring aquifers and rivers.
Apple is taking a watershed-based approach to tackle water stress worldwide, initiating replenishment work in other high-impact regions in the United States like Northern and Southern California and Arizona’s Colorado River Basin. The company’s Supplier Clean Water Programme enabled over 12 billion gallons in freshwater savings across its supply chain last year alone.
Globally, the tech giant’s renewable procurement strategies enabled a supply chain-wide output of 25.5 million megawatt-hours of clean electricity in 2023, avoiding over 18.5 million metric tons of carbon emissions. Key renewable investments like Apple’s China Clean Energy Fund have unlocked over 1 gigawatt of new wind and solar projects.
As one of the world’s largest tech companies, Apple is positioning robust environmental programs as crucial to its core strategy for the remainder of this decade.
A notable section of last year’s iPhone launch event was dedicated to explaining how the company is working on reducing its carbon footprint. The event also saw the launch of the company’s first carbon-neutral products. The aluminium Apple Watch Series 9 or SE when paired with the new Sport Loop band is carbon neutral, for instance.
First uploaded on: 17-04-2024 at 17:15 IST
Apple shines light on renewable energy, water conservation push in India added by News89 Team on
View all posts by News89 Team →
You must be logged in to post a comment Login