Apple Park
Apple and its partners are building new renewable energy projects worldwide, improving the energy generation for local communities, states, and even for various countries. These projects consist of a diverse range of energy sources, which include solar energy and wind farms and emerging technologies like biogas fuel cells, micro-hydro generation systems, and energy storage technologies.
Apple currently has 25 operational renewable energy projects around the world, totaling 626 megawatts of generation capacity, with 286 megawatts of solar PV generation, in 2017. Its upcoming projects will take the production to over 1.4 gigawatts of clean renewable energy, worldwide. This has reduced the greenhouse gas emission from its facilities by 54% around the world and prevented nearly 2.1 million metric tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.
Among the projects, Apple’s new headquarter is one of the most expensive and eco-friendly structures. The project ‘Apple Park’ was announced by then CEO Steve Jobs in 2006. It took about 11years to plan and construct the futuristic and eco-friendly office.
The headquarters is powered by 100% renewable energy. The ring constructed structure is home to one of the largest solar farms in the world, it generates about 17 MW i.e., around 75% of campus energy requirement, the rest demand is met by on-site fuel cells powered by biofuels which produce about 4MW energy, controlled by a microgrid with battery storage. It also gives clean energy back to the public grid during periods of low occupancy. It does not require traditional cooling or heating methods as it has a natural ventilation system. And about 80% of the area is green space and is planted with 9000 drought-resistant trees around the campus, which include cherry, apricot, olives, and obviously, apples!
Around the world, a lot of structures are being constructed which try to use renewable energy as much as possible. Eiffel Tower (Paris), Burj Khalifa (Dubai), National Stadium in Kaohsiung(Taiwan), White House (Washington DC), are a few among them. More and more initiatives should be taken towards sustainable development to create an eco-friendly environment.