Apple Boosts Efforts in Renewable Energy and Water Sustainability - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Apple Boosts Efforts in Renewable Energy and Water Sustainability

Apple is intensifying its global investment in clean energy and water sustainability, advancing towards its "Apple 2030" goal of achieving carbon neutrality across its entire value chain by the decade's end, the company has announced.

Apple global clean energy and water Spain solar power project big

"Clean energy and water are foundational to healthy communities and essential building blocks for a responsible business," said Lisa Jackson, Apple's vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives. "We're racing toward our ambitious Apple 2030 climate goal while taking on the long-term work to transform electrical grids and restore watersheds to build a cleaner future for all."

Apple says it has successfully increased its clean electricity capacity to over 18 gigawatts — a threefold increase since 2020 — largely powered by solar energy projects in the U.S. and Europe. The initiatives support Apple's operational and manufacturing needs as well as cater to the electricity used by customers to power their devices.

Apple has also set a target to replenish 100% of the freshwater used in its corporate operations in high-stress areas. The company has established partnerships aimed at restoring aquifers and rivers and has provided nearly 7 billion gallons of water benefits slated for the next 20 years. Apple says that, with the help of suppliers, the company conserved over 76 billion gallons of water through the Supplier Clean Water Program.

Popular Stories

Apple Event Logo

Apple Working on All-New Operating System

Wednesday July 29, 2026 11:39 am PDT by
Apple is developing an all-new operating system that is essentially a mix of tvOS, watchOS, and iOS, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In a report this week, he said the operating system will feature a grid of icons, widgets, and apps, along with customizable clock faces. The new software platform is intended for Apple's long-rumored smart home hub. With built-in facial recognition,...
imac video apple feature

Apple Made Its Second-Biggest Acquisition Ever This Year

Wednesday July 29, 2026 12:03 pm PDT by
Apple this year acquired Israeli startup Q.ai for close to $2 billion, according to the Financial Times. That would make this Apple's second-biggest acquisition ever, after it paid $3 billion for the popular headphone maker Beats in 2014. This is also the largest known Apple acquisition since the company purchased Intel's smartphone modem business and patents for $1 billion in 2019. Q.ai...
Dynamic Island iPhone 18 Pro Feature

iPhone 18 Pro: Twelve Changes Coming to Apple's Next Flagship

Thursday July 30, 2026 3:43 am PDT by
We're less than two months out from the launch of Apple's premium next-generation smartphone lineup, and while we're not expecting a dramatic change in terms of functionality, there are still several enhancements rumored to be coming to the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth noting is that Apple is reportedly planning a major change to its iPhone release cycle this year,...

Top Rated Comments

30 months ago

Probably the only thing worse than producing e-waste is producing nuclear waste.
First off, no nuclear waste is not a problem. Second, Gen 4 doesn't usually produce radioactive waste that needs to be stored for centuries. There is a lot of information on the internet about this. Also, Gen 4 is not a danger for accidents similar to Chernobyl or Fukushima. The bar to entry on this is really bureaucratic and financial. Older reactors are like inkjet printers. The companies don't make a lot of money on building them, they make money providing the fuel into perpetuity. Gen 4 largely can eliminate this because it uses fuel that is much easier to come by and far less dangerous naturally than Uranium.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
30 months ago
Hearing sustainability is the goal of so many tech companies is getting old. If they really want to make a difference move manufacturing out of countries that have zero interest in the environment.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
flottenheimer Avatar
30 months ago
I applaud every move towards a more sustainable Apple. And they do a lot of good stuff.

I do think Apple should focus even more on their products though.

A few ideas:

— Replaceable AirPod batteries.
— Replaceable laptop batteries.
— Ditch the iMac (the CPU/'computer' will be outdated way before the screen, but all will be tossed). The alternative: MacMini/MacStudio + Monitor is much less wasteful.
— Upgradable storage for all computers (an empty M.2 slot will suffice).

... as we all know — a long(er) lifespan is a good thing.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
30 months ago

How do these massive solar panel installations support Apple's operational and manufacturing needs on an overcast day or after sunset? How do they get their power then? Has Apple installed massive electrical energy storage facilities to provide energy when the sun isn't shining?

Does Apple account for the energy and carbon footprint of manufacturing their solar facilities in their "clean electricity" statements?
Not only that but the amount of land that is required for these. Why are we destroying so much natural wilderness for the pipe dream of sustainable Solar? Apple has the money. Build Gen 4 nuclear and then it clean and has 1/1000 the footprint.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
30 months ago

Solar panels are easy to recycle and replace.
https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2022-07-14/california-rooftop-solar-pv-panels-recycling-danger

https://www.wired.com/story/solar-panels-are-starting-to-die-leaving-behind-toxic-trash/

https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/08/19/1032215/solar-panels-recycling/

Doesn't seem so easy.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DominikHoffmann Avatar
30 months ago
Also, what is the environmental impact of producing all those solar panels? What’s the environmental impact when they have to be discarded, like after a severe hail storm?



Attachment Image
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)

🔗 Related Apple News & Rumors

Stay updated with the latest Apple ecosystem news and verified rumors