Apple Announces New $300 Million Clean Energy Fund in China

[MacRumors]

Apple today announced the launch of a $300 million investment fund in China which is designed to connect Apple's suppliers with renewable energy sources.

Apple, along with 10 initial suppliers, is investing $300 million into the China Clean Energy Fund over the course of the next four years. Apple says the fund will invest in and develop clean energy projects totaling more than 1 gigawatt of renewable energy in China, which is equivalent to powering close to 1 million homes.

Apple's new fund will be managed by DWS Group, a company that specializes in sustainable investments. DWS also plans to invest in the fund.

"At Apple, we are proud to join with companies that are stepping up to address the climate challenge," said Lisa Jackson, Apple's vice president of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives. "We're thrilled so many of our suppliers are participating in the fund and hope this model can be replicated globally to help businesses of all sizes make a significant positive impact on our planet."

According to Apple, the China Clean Energy Fund will provide participates with the advantage of greater purchasing power and the ability to attain "more attractive and diverse" clean energy solutions.

Participating suppliers include Catcher Technology, Compal Electronics, Corning Incorporated, Golden Arrow, Jabil, Luxshare-ICT, Pegatron, Solway, Sunway Communication, and Wistron.

Apple earlier this year announced that all of its facilities around the world are powered by 100 percent renewable energy, a milestone achievement for the company.

To hit that goal, Apple invested in and constructed renewable energy facilities around the world, including solar arrays, wind farms, biogas fuel cells, micro-hydration generation systems, and other energy storage technologies.

Since the launch of its Supplier Clean Energy Program in 2015, 23 manufacturing partners across 10 countries have committed to powering their Apple production lines with 100 percent clean energy.

Article Link: Apple Announces New $300 Million Clean Energy Fund in China

 

[hagar]

Too bad the USA are more focused on clean coal. This would have been a great investment.

 

[Will.O.Bie]

Wow! China is not exactly known for being environmentally friendly. Their pollution is one of the worst, if not the worst, in the world. I'm sure it took great "courage" to convince them to even entertain this type of project.

 

[TimmeyCook]

Too bad the USA are more focused on clean coal. This would have been a great investment.

Yes.

Specially considering that this is electrical power.

You can have both clean coal, nuclear, solar, wind, etc.

 

[JPack]

A single city in China has more electric buses than fossil buses from all U.S. cities combined. They have the largest solar farm in the world. Also the largest market for plug-in vehicles.

This $300MM fund is just a drop in the bucket.

 

[Kaibelf]

Wow! China is not exactly known for being environmentally friendly. Their pollution is one of the worst, if not the worst, in the world. I'm sure it took great "courage" to convince them to even entertain this type of project.

Actually, China is known for aggressively pushing for renewable more than almost anyone to fix the very pollution issue you mentioned. It’s been the case for many years now and that’s why they are far ahead of the US in their embrace of renewables already.

 

[cote32mt]

A single city in China has more electric buses than all U.S. cities combined. They have the largest solar farm in the world. Also the largest market for plug-in vehicles.

This $300MM fund is just a drop in the bucket.

That is certainly something for us all to think seriously about.

 

[Darajavahus]

If they are so about being eco and about positive impact on our planet how are they still selling LEATHER stuff?!

 

[boast]

Actually, China is known for aggressively pushing for renewable more than almost anyone to fix the very pollution issue you mentioned. It’s been the case for many years now and that’s why they are far ahead of the US in their embrace of renewables already.

I look forward to China (the country with advancements in renewables) donating money to the US to help with pollution and clean energy.

 

[routine_analyst]

I look forward to China donating money to the US to help with pollution and clean energy.

You mean Chinese companies?

 

[M.PaulCezanne]

You mean Chinese companies?

They’re very often one and the same in China.

 

[Duane Martin]

I look forward to China donating money to the US to help with pollution and clean energy.

"Donating"? You do realize that Apple operates in many countries outside of the U.S.A., including in China. In the last quarter 65% of Apple's revenues came from outside of the U.S. and China accounted for almost $18 billion dollars of revenue. So, investing $300 million in a country that generates a whole lot more than that is hardly "donating".

 

[femike]

Apple has no realinterest climate change or the environment or to reduce waste other than for good PR and profit. The type of products that Apple promotes prove that. eg iMacs all-in-ones, computers than cannot be user upgradeable and in some not at all, throttling devices, use of built in lithium batteries instead of replaceable/chargeable AA batteries (eg keyboard. mouse, trackpad), etc.

 

[NT1440]

Wow! China is not exactly known for being environmentally friendly. Their pollution is one of the worst, if not the worst, in the world. I'm sure it took great "courage" to convince them to even entertain this type of project.

Uhhh...while China has serious pollution problems they have been taking it beyond seriously for almost a decade now. The amount of solar installations alone in that country are staggering.
[doublepost=1531441353][/doublepost]

Apple has no realinterest climate change or the environment or to reduce waste other than for good PR and profit. The type of products that Apple promotes prove that. eg iMacs all-in-ones, computers than cannot be user upgradeable and in some not at all, throttling devices, use of built in lithium batteries instead of replaceable/chargeable AA batteries (eg keyboard. mouse, trackpad), etc.

...did you just claim that rechargeable AA batteries, which have a lifetime nowhere close to the 1000 charge cycle of Apple’s batteries, is somehow environmentally friendly?

 

[tzm41]

I look forward to China donating money to the US to help with pollution and clean energy.

If only you understand the difference between an investment and a donation...

 

[MoreRumors?]

Apple has no realinterest climate change or the environment or to reduce waste other than for good PR and profit. The type of products that Apple promotes prove that. eg iMacs all-in-ones, computers than cannot be user upgradeable and in some not at all, throttling devices, use of built in lithium batteries instead of replaceable/chargeable AA batteries (eg keyboard. mouse, trackpad), etc.

I agree with you. You look at their iPhone Upgrade Program which encourages people to get a new iPhone every year. So how is this being green? And same for other Apple products with trade-ins where you get a higher value when it is not too old.

 

[AAPL_DayTrader]

There's a rumor that President Trump is allegedly thinking about placing a new 5% tariff on any clean or polluted air that passes over Chinese territory but then subsequently crosses international borders until it's actually maliciously invading US air-space without having the official authorization to do so, something that only an executive order or an emergency act of Congress can legally provide. But since he wanted to first separate air molecules at the border as part of his "zero tolerance" policy before figuring out how to meticulously apply his trade-war tariffs at the molecular level, the latest report is that his original plan has mysteriously fizzled into thin air. And just moments ago, there's also a report alleging that a US Federal Appeals Court in California has just ruled he's supposed to re-assemble the atoms that had originally been orphaned but no one in his administration seems to be able to find them at this time.

 

[Tech198]

Wow! China is not exactly known for being environmentally friendly. Their pollution is one of the worst, if not the worst, in the world. I'm sure it took great "courage" to convince them to even entertain this type of project.

Ever been to Hong Kong? The pollution there, probably from China would be the cause by the work they do... I see this effort by Apple an "urgent" attention.

I'm surprised Apple never looked at this before.

 

[Kaibelf]

I look forward to China (the country with advancements in renewables) donating money to the US to help with pollution and clean energy.

We don’t need (or frankly deserve) it. If we want clean energy, it’s our responsibility to vote accordingly either in elections or with our money.
[doublepost=1531445694][/doublepost]

They’re very often one and the same in China.

And everywhere else. Exhibits A, B and C are Monsanto, Boeing, and Lockheed.

 

[Tech198]

We don’t need (or frankly deserve) it. If we want clean energy, it’s our responsibility to vote accordingly either in elections or with our money.
[doublepost=1531445694][/doublepost]

And everywhere else. Exhibits A, B and C are Monsanto, Boeing, and Lockheed.

China probably got picked because it's Apple's main selling point.

 

[hagar]

Yes.

Specially considering that this is electrical power.

You can have both clean coal, nuclear, solar, wind, etc.

Yes. Indeed you can.

Except clean coal. You can’t have clean coal.
Just like you can’t have nuclear-free nuclear power.

 

[DrSkywalker]

Hey Apple. Coal is a reality in China for the medium term and is the big smog culprit. Airborne Clean Energy from Canada is trying to make inroads into China and has the tech to turn the emissions into nitrogen fertilizer and baking soda. This is a company that needs support worldwide.

Apple today announced the launch of a $300 million investment fund in China which is designed to connect Apple's suppliers with renewable energy sources.

Apple, along with 10 initial suppliers, is investing $300 million into the China Clean Energy Fund over the course of the next four years. Apple says the fund will invest in and develop clean energy projects totaling more than 1 gigawatt of renewable energy in China, which is equivalent to powering close to 1 million homes.

Apple's new fund will be managed by DWS Group, a company that specializes in sustainable investments. DWS also plans to invest in the fund.
According to Apple, the China Clean Energy Fund will provide participates with the advantage of greater purchasing power and the ability to attain "more attractive and diverse" clean energy solutions.

Participating suppliers include Catcher Technology, Compal Electronics, Corning Incorporated, Golden Arrow, Jabil, Luxshare-ICT, Pegatron, Solway, Sunway Communication, and Wistron.

Apple earlier this year announced that all of its facilities around the world are powered by 100 percent renewable energy, a milestone achievement for the company.

To hit that goal, Apple invested in and constructed renewable energy facilities around the world, including solar arrays, wind farms, biogas fuel cells, micro-hydration generation systems, and other energy storage technologies.

Since the launch of its Supplier Clean Energy Program in 2015, 23 manufacturing partners across 10 countries have committed to powering their Apple production lines with 100 percent clean energy.

Article Link: Apple Announces New $300 Million Clean Energy Fund in China

 

[Frank Dalton]

Is there any way to objectively evaluate this? Is it truly what it purports to be or is it just a giant bribe?

 

[dav1dd]

The only clean energy fund I'm aware of is the one where they clean the funds out of your wallet. amiright?

 

[Marekul]

Is there any way to objectively evaluate this? Is it truly what it purports to be or is it just a giant bribe?

Apple basically merged with the Chinese government earlier this year, even giving them access to all Chinese User iCloud data. This is probably part of the deal.