Apple Going 100% Solar For Singapore Operations

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Apple’s operations in Singapore will be powered fully by solar, beginning January of 2016, using a combination of on-site rooftop solar and an off-site PPA. The agreement with Sunseap will make Apple the first company in Singapore to go 100% renewable energy, according to the clean energy company.

This solar deal will see Sunseap provide solar electricity to Apple from some 800 rooftop solar installations on both public-owned buildings and Apple’s own facilities, generating an estimated 1.1 MW-worth of power, as well as providing up to 40 GWh of additional clean power from a Power Purchase Agreement.

“Climate change is one of the great challenges of our time, and it’s going to take determination and innovation to make the much needed transition to a green economy. This deal will cover all of our electricity needs in Singapore, including our 2,500-person corporate campus and new retail store.” – Lisa Jackson, Apple VP of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives

According to Reuters, the tech giant will receive 33 MW of Sunseap’s 50 MW of rooftop solar, with the remainder of the electricity powering public-owned housing, which is one of the reasons the project was approved by Singapore’s development board.

Frank Phuan, Managing Director of Sunseap, suggested that the deal with Apple could help to inspire more companies to source their electricity from renewable energy sources, saying “We expect a ripple effect for organizations in Singapore to incorporate sustainability practices in their businesses, especially for listed companies.”

“We are confident that this pioneering business model of offsite power-purchase agreements will help Singapore address our space scarcity challenge and spur even more companies in Singapore to scale their renewable energy usage.” – Goh Chee Kiong, Executive Director of Cleantech, Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB)

The Apple retail store slated to open in Singapore will be the company’s first store in Southeast Asia, and while the exact location hasn’t been announced yet, CNET declared that it will most likely be on Orchard Road, which is “at the heart of Singapore’s shopping district,” in a 15,000 square foot space.

Earlier this year, Apple worked with SunPower to install 2 solar PV projects with a combined capacity of 40 MW in the Sichuan province of China, which is expected to make the company’s operations in that region carbon neutral, and is planning to add another 200 MW of solar in that country, with an ultimate goal of developing 2 GW of solar PV there.