Apple will generate over 4GW of clean energy worldwide by 2020

Apple today announced that the China Clean Energy Fund it launched is to invest nearly $300 million in three wind farms.

Green energy for humanity

Apple and its suppliers will generate more than 4 gigawatts of clean energy worldwide by 2020.

This will cover one-third of the electricity needed for Apple’s global manufacturers and suppliers.

It’s a step in the right direction.

Launched in 2018, the China Clean Energy Fund is an investment fund that connects suppliers with renewable energy projects. Apple and 10 of its suppliers in China will invest nearly $300 million by 2022 to develop projects totaling 1 gigawatt of renewable energy.

Three wind farms in Hunan and Hubei will generate approximately one-tenth of the anticipated overall project total. Two in Hunan already generate 48 megawatts (MW) of clean energy, while a third in Hubei province delivers 38MW.

No matter what climate change deniers and paid fossil fuel acolytes believe, Apple and China already know climate change is real and the environmental destruction of human activity must be mitigated by swift adoption of green energy.

These small steps may be tiny in comparison to the problem, but switched-on politicians are beginning to recognise the need to act.

While less switched-on leaders are slowly being pushed toward their soon to be forgotten place in history.

Fighting climate change

“To see these projects completed and already supplying clean energy to the grid is really exciting,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives.

“We are proud that suppliers participating in the fund share our commitment to supporting innovative energy solutions, cutting emissions and fighting climate change.”

Transitioning to clean energy can be a challenging process, especially for small companies. By virtue of its size and scale, the China Clean Energy Fund will give its participants greater purchasing power and more attractive and diverse solutions.

Cooperation helps

With the launch of the global Supplier Clean Energy Program in 2015, and initiatives such as the China Clean Energy Fund, a growing number of manufacturing partners — 44 suppliers in 16 countries — have committed to using 100 percent clean energy to power their Apple production.

“The China Clean Energy Fund has enabled us to invest in a great many renewable projects at a much higher capacity. This just wouldn’t be possible on our own,” said Hao Peng, chairman and president of Sunway Communication, an Apple supplier and investor in the fund.

“We appreciate Apple’s efforts, and we’re looking forward to investing in clean energy projects across China.”

The wind farms in Hunan and Hubei also impact their local economies and governments helping each province reach mandated renewable energy goals.

“We’re confident that these programs can be used as a model globally to help achieve our goal of 100 percent clean energy,” said Lisa Jackson. “The projects in China show what’s possible when companies, governments and innovators step up together to address climate change.”

It’s time governments and companies worldwide did the same.

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