Apple has announced a significant expansion of its investments in renewable energy in Europe, as part of efforts to reduce the carbon footprint generated by the energy used by customers to power and charge its devices.
The American giant is backing several solar and wind energy projects under development in Greece, Italy, Latvia, Romania, and Poland.
The initiative complements the previously announced investment in the Castano solar park near the city of Segovia in Spain, which became operational earlier this year and can power approximately 76,500 households.
Romania and Poland, priority targets for investments
Apple states that it prioritizes countries and regions where it can have the most significant impact, such as Poland and Romania, whose networks have a high carbon intensity. The company supports the construction of projects through long-term power purchase agreements, direct investments, or capital participation.
For example, Apple intends to purchase energy from a 99 MW wind farm in Galați County, a project developed by Nala Renewables and built by OX2, through a long-term agreement.
So far, Apple's involvement in the announced European projects has facilitated access to financing worth $600 million (approximately £450 million).
Goal: 100% clean energy for Apple users
Although the projects will directly supply energy to national grids, Apple specifies that the produced energy will contribute to achieving its climate goals.
The company aims to fully offset, by 2030, the electricity used by its customers in Europe - including the UK - to charge Apple devices, writes The Independent.
"By 2030, we want our users to know that all the energy needed to charge their iPhone or use a Mac is offset with clean electricity. The new projects in Europe will help us achieve the Apple 2030 goal, while also contributing to healthy communities, prosperous economies, and secure energy sources on the continent," said Lisa Jackson, Apple's Vice President for Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives.
According to the company's own calculations, the energy used by consumers to charge their devices accounted for approximately 29% of Apple's total greenhouse gas emissions in 2024. This percentage does not include data centers, which, according to the company, already operate entirely on renewable energy.
In order to achieve its 2030 goal, Apple estimates that it needs to add 3,000 GWh of renewable energy to the grid annually to match the electricity consumption of its customers.
The projects announced on Tuesday will cover one-third of this requirement, producing over 1,000 GWh per year. The company intends to continue expanding its investments in Europe until the end of the decade.
Criticism and processes regarding "carbon neutrality"
Despite these efforts, Apple has faced criticism for some nature-based offset projects. In August, a German court ruled that advertisements describing the Apple Watch as "carbon neutral" were misleading. The company also faces a similar class-action lawsuit in the United States.
"We welcome the public scrutiny of our activities and strive to be as transparent as possible. When we talk about our products and company, we clearly explain how we intend to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030," responded Lisa Jackson to the critics.
Apple has a different strategy
The tech giant is promoting these investments at a time when more companies are scaling back their climate commitments, and the political consensus on green transition is fracturing in the US, UK, and Europe.
"We have always viewed investments in clean energy as business decisions. We do it not out of altruism but because it is a real economic opportunity," said Lisa Jackson.
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