Apple Expands Solar, Cuts Emissions in Chinese Operation

Apple this week details moves to make its business in China more energy efficient.

The programs cut more than 20 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions between now and 2020. Apple said that it built solar projects with a capacity of 40 MW in Sichuan Province. The electricity generated is greater than the amount used by Apple offices and stores in China. This means that its operations are carbon-neutral.

The company said that it is building new solar capacity in the north, east and southern grids. The goal is to generate 200 MW of electricity to start neutralizing the amount of energy used in Apple’s supply chain. The new capacity will supply the equivalent of the electricity used annually by 265,000 homes.

The Sichuan Province project was announced in May. At that time, the company said that Apple is partnering with Leshan Electric Power, Sichuan Development Holding, Tianjin Tsinlien Investment Holding, Tianjin Zhonghuan Semiconductor and SunPower on the project, on two 20-MW solar farms. Together the project will generate up to 80 million kWh per year. The facilities, which are co-owned by Sichuan Shengtian New Energy Development, SunPower’s project development joint venture and Apple.

Apple also said that it is launching an initiative to convince manufacturing companies with which it works to increase energy efficiency and use clean energy.