Apple hoping to green up its act

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

Tentative rumours about technology company Apple’s investment in solar power have been partially confirmed. The Guardian said today that a spokeswoman for Apple would only verify that the company was preparing the ground next to its data centre in California, but not whether it has any intention to leave coal behind and turn to solar power.

According to a California-based publication The Charlotte Observer, Apple had received a permit to clear a 121 acre site next to its US$1 billion data centre, used to store Apple customers’ information for its iCloud application.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

The project became public knowledge in the town when work crews began burning the cleared brush from the site in mid-October. Neighbours complained about the smoke billowing into their homes. “They decided after that since it was annoying the neighbours to bring in a chipper and shred and mulch all the wood,” said Toni Norton, an engineer for Catawba County.

A Greenpeace spokesperson, last month, told another publication, The A Register, that early estimates indicate the project, dubbed Project Dolphin, could have a 100MW capacity, producing on average, 30,000MW hours per year.

With the expansion of cloud computing, companies such as Apple have invested heavily in large data centres for their web-based services – often in areas promising cheap electricity, such as North Carolina. The A Register wrote: “Cheap power and land is what attracts many companies to North Carolina, with Facebook and Google also having data centres there and incentive schemes like the One North Carolina Fund are set up to get employment for local workers.”

It is hoped that this installation could offset the bad press Apple has received on the environmental impact of its facilities and services. In April this year, Greenpeace named Apple the ‘least green’ tech company in a report titled How Dirty is Your Data? Companies in the US are not required by law to disclose their energy use or carbon emissions, however, through publically available information, Greenpeace estimated that Apple’s dependence on coal for the data centres was at 54.5%, followed closely by Facebook at 53.2%.

Apple is yet to respond to our request for confirmation on the figures and details listed in this article.
 

Read Next

September 16, 2025
IB Solar is investing INR30 billion (US$340 million) in a 4GW TOPCon solar cell and module manufacturing plant in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh.
September 16, 2025
Two of the major European solar trade associations, the European Solar Manufacturing Council (ESMC) and SolarPower Europe (SPE), have called for EU policymakers to take measures supporting European solar manufacturing.
September 16, 2025
The Philippines has commissioned the Batangas 1 project, the country's first to combine agriPV with a battery energy storage system (BESS).
September 16, 2025
Two Wisconsin Republicans have introduced legislation to open access to community solar projects in the US state.
September 15, 2025
Advances in edge-based artificial intelligence are helping make solar and storage interoperable by tackling the data challenge, writes Andrew Foster.
September 15, 2025
Italy’s latest renewable energy tender has received 12GW of bids, of which the majority, 10GW, came from solar PV.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines