Apple's Renewable Present

The company's most high-profile expression of its renewable energy ambitions is Apple Park, the new campus in Cupertinto, California, designed by Foster + Partners. The 2.8-million-square-foot building housing 12,000 employees is capped by a 17-megawatt solar installation — or 2.7% of Apple's 25 operational renewable energy projects around the world, which total 626 megawatts of generation capacity. With 15 more projects in construction, Apple will have over 1.4 gigawatts of clean renewable energy generation spread across 11 countries.

Many of Apple's renewable energy projects​ are less notable architecturally, such as the data centers that have been powered by 100% renewable energy since 2014. In some cases, Apple has created partnerships with local utilities to develop renewable energy projects. For instance, in Reno, Nevada, it has developed four new projects totaling 320 megawatts of solar PV generation. 

Although Apple's renewal energy commitment is limited to the operation of its buildings and not their construction nor other areas where renewables could be used, the company pointed out it has commitments from 23 of its suppliers (a 2012 list of suppliers indicates 156 companies) to operate on 100 percent renewable energy. Most importantly, Apple's corporate influence should push other companies to get their acts together when it comes to their renewable futures.