Apple’s global manufacturing partners move to 100% renewable energy

The Cupertino-based company will use Tesla’s 85 lithium-ion megapack batteries at its California plant

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  An aerial view of the new Apple Park campus that is built in the shape of a spaceship. Getty

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  Steve Jobs theatre at Apple Park. AFP

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  The Apple Park visitor centre. AFP

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  Steve Jobs theatre at Apple Park. Getty

More than 110 of Apple's manufacturing partners worldwide will be fully powered by renewable energy, helping the iPhone maker advance its goals to cut emissions.

This transition will generate almost eight gigawatts of clean energy over the months, the world's second-largest smartphone maker said in a statement on Thursday.

The move will help reduce over 15 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually, equivalent to taking more than 3.4 million cars off the road each year.

"We are firmly committed to helping our suppliers become carbon neutral by 2030 … [we] are thrilled that companies who have joined us span industries and countries around the world, including Germany, China, the US, India and France," Lisa Jackson, Apple's vice president for environment, policy and social initiatives, said.

We are firmly committed to helping our suppliers become carbon neutral by 2030

Apple, which said the bulk of its emissions rise from its product manufacturing, unveiled a plan last year to become carbon neutral across its entire business, manufacturing supply chain and product life cycle by 2030. This means that every Apple device sold will have net zero climate impact in the next 10 years.

The company also said it is constructing one of the largest battery projects in the US, California Flats. It can house up to 240 megawatt-hours of energy, enough to power over 7,000 homes for one day and will allow the company to store excess energy generated during the day to use when required.

The project was approved by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors last year and it will consist of Tesla's 85 lithium-ion 'megapack' batteries.

Megapack is a massive battery that could substitute power plants that supply power when an electrical grid gets overloaded.

The Cupertino-based company has invested $2.8 billion it raised through green bonds to fund 17 renewable energy projects last year.

Apple has so far raised a total of $4.7 billion through three green bond deals that raise money for renewable energy, climate and environmental projects. In February 2016, the company issued its first $1.5bn green bond, followed by its a $1bn deal in June 2017 and $2.2bn in November 2019.

It is also financing green energy projects to cover a portion of upstream emissions, the company said.

Upstream emissions are the release of greenhouse gases before the raw material for the fuel enters a processing plant.

“In a year like no other, Apple continued to work with a global network of colleagues, companies and advocates to help make our environmental efforts and everything we do a force for good in people’s lives … and to work alongside the communities most impacted by climate change,” said Ms Jackson.

The company’s carbon footprint has decreased by 40 per cent and it has avoided more than 15 million metric tonnes of emissions through green initiatives.

Apple said it is also introducing its suppliers to resources and training materials to facilitate a smooth transition to renewables. It also connects them with project developers to buy renewable energy directly from them.