Comments on: Apple to Build Largest Solar Array

By: Apple Data Center in Maiden NC Gets All Renewable Energy

Apple Data Center in Maiden NC Gets All Renewable Energy — Sat, 19 May 2012 13:45:02 +0000

[…] May 19, 2012 By Tina Casey Leave a Comment SharePin It News has slowly been leaking out about renewable energy plans for Apple’s data center in Maiden, North Carolina, and now the whole shebang is up on […]

By: Zachary Shahan

Zachary Shahan — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 15:58:00 +0000

Thanks.

They get pretty chastised by Greenpeace: http://cleantechnica.com/2012/02/08/google-tops-cool-it-climate-ranking/
But it is improving in their eyes: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/climate-change/cool-it/Guide-to-Greener-Electronics/

By: Bob_Wallace

Bob_Wallace — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 18:46:00 +0000

Sorry, I should have written –

42 million kWh / 365 days / 20 thousand kW of panels = 5.75 hours

“20 thousand kW” and not “20 thousand MW”. I was attempting to get the units simplified. Edited my first post….

By: tesla222

tesla222 — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 17:33:00 +0000

“Good to see Apple hop on (albeit slowly) the environmentally friendly corporate train!”

Source: Apple Facilities Report, 2012
‘For more than 10 years, Apple has purchased renewable
energy for our facilities around the globe. Our facilities located in Cork, Ireland; Munich, Germany; Austin, Texas; and Elk Grove, California are currently using 100 percent
renewable energy resources.’

Maybe not as ‘albeit slowly’ as you might think! Where do they stand in comparison with other large companies?

Re: using the roof – the solar panels will be on 100 acres, how big is the surface area of the roof? Even if it’s 10 acres they wouldn’t save much, especially if the rood wasn’t design to support the extra weight…. Good idea though!

By: David Lipschitz

David Lipschitz — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 08:23:00 +0000

Thanks. Note its 20 MW, not 20,000 MW.

By: Bob_Wallace

Bob_Wallace — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 02:53:00 +0000

Sounds like they are expecting a 5.75 hour average solar day.

42 million kWh / 365 days / 20 thousand MW of panels = 5.75 hours

That seems a bit high for the area. Perhaps they are going to use trackers to stretch the day.

By: Zachary Shahan

Zachary Shahan — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 22:47:00 +0000

that’s what the source (apple doc) says: http://images.apple.com/environment/reports/docs/Apple_Facilities_Report_2012.pdf

By: Lou Gage

Lou Gage — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:34:00 +0000

Great to see this news. I also wonder about the roof mounted panels. Now with all that money they will be saving maybe they could pay a living wage to Chinese workers.

By: David Lipschitz

David Lipschitz — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 12:13:00 +0000

Please can you check this number or let me know how you calculated it? “Apple will be adding … a 20-megawatt solar array that will supply 42 million kilowatt hour of renewable energy every year.”

By: lukealization

lukealization — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 08:23:00 +0000

Good to see Apple hop on (albeit slowly) the environmentally friendly corporate train!

One improvement I might suggest however:
Surely instead of painting the roof white, they could simply install the solar panels on the roof? It’s a win-win-win.

1) Solar panels absorb the heat and stops sunlight even reaching the roof of the building with a gap in between…

2) Less land is used…

3) And Apple doesn’t have to pay as much for that land!