Apple is looking to further bolster renewable energy in China with a fresh ¥720 million ($99.22 million) investment aimed at scaling up wind and solar power production.
With CEO Tim Cook recently visiting Beijing, the investment aims to align the company’s Chinese supply chain with global clean energy goals.
The investment is the second phase of Apple’s China Clean Energy Fund, first launched in 2018. The initial phase mobilised $300 million from Apple and 12 of its suppliers, leading to the development of over 1 gigawatt of solar and wind projects across 14 provinces.
Now, Apple aims to add another 550,000 megawatt-hours of renewable energy to China’s grid, pushing its suppliers further toward sustainable manufacturing.
Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer, noted the role of Chinese partners in this transition, stating, “Our suppliers in China are promoting world-class progress in the fields of intelligent manufacturing and green manufacturing. With the launch of the second phase of the China Clean Energy Fund, we are honoured to deepen our connection with suppliers across China.”
Apple has kept quiet on which suppliers are part of this new phase, though past participants included major firms like Compal Electronics, Corning, Jabil, and Luxshare. Some of these suppliers have since reshaped their operations—Luxshare, for instance, acquired Pegatron’s iPhone production facility, while Catcher Technology sold key assets to Lens Technology.
This initiative ties into Apple’s environmental strategy. The company has been carbon neutral in its corporate operations since 2020 and is pushing to extend that across its supply chain and products by 2030. In China, about two-thirds of Apple’s manufacturing is already powered by renewable energy, with the company working alongside over 100 suppliers to accelerate the shift.
Cook’s visit to China coincided with the China Development Forum, where he met with senior officials and reiterated Apple’s focus on innovation and sustainability in the country.
Apple’s green initiatives have previously won global recognition, including a UN Climate Action award, though not without controversy. After announcing the Apple Watch Series 9 as its first carbon-neutral product in 2023, a Chinese environmental group accused the company of “climate-washing.”
Beyond China, Apple’s Supplier Clean Energy Program is pushing its global partners to adopt renewables, revealing the company’s strategy to influence supply chains worldwide.
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