Apple forms JV with CleanMax to launch 6 rooftop solar projects in India

Global smartphone maker Apple Inc has formed a joint venture (JV) with Mumbai-based renewable energy maker CleanMax to invest in a portfolio of six rooftop solar projects, with a total size of 14.4 megawatts. The solar projects will provide power supply to Apple's offices in the country and two retail stores in Mumbai and New Delhi.

"The added capacity provides a local solution to power Apple’s offices, its two retail stores in the country, and other operations in India. Apple first achieved 100% renewable energy for its global corporate operations in 2018," Apple says in a statement.

Announcing its progress in clean energy as part of its Apple 2030 goals, the tech giant says more than 18 gigawatts of clean electricity now power Apple’s global operations and manufacturing supply chain, more than triple the amount in 2020.

The company says it has extended its commitment to clean water across the entire supply chain: “Together, Apple suppliers saved over 12 billion gallons of fresh water last year, for a total of 76 billion gallons in water savings since the company launched its Supplier Clean Water Program in 2013.”

The company claims it has advanced progress toward another 2030 goal: to replenish 100% of the freshwater used in corporate operations in high-stress locations. "This includes launching new partnerships to deliver nearly 7 billion gallons in water benefits — from restoring aquifers and rivers, to funding access to drinking water — over the next 20 years."

“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.

Apple says it aims to advance water security everywhere its business reaches through collaboration across the manufacturing supply chain and innovative long-term partnerships to restore ecosystems, address community water needs, and improve the climate resilience of watersheds. "Since water impacts are felt locally, Apple has initiated freshwater replenishment work in some of the highest-stress locations where the company operates — including Northern and Southern California, Arizona’s Colorado River Basin, and the Indian states of Telangana and Maharashtra."

Last year, says Apple, it achieved its target for 100% water replenishment for the company’s corporate operations in India through its ongoing work with Uptime Catalyst Facility. "In 2023, Apple’s support provided 23 million gallons of clean, affordable drinking water to communities from over 300 water kiosks run by local entrepreneurs in the innovative performance-based programme."

Notably, electricity makes up the largest portion of Apple’s comprehensive carbon footprint. As part of Apple 2030, Apple has called on its global suppliers to use clean electricity and become carbon neutral across all their Apple-related operations. Over 320 suppliers — representing 95% of Apple’s direct manufacturing spend — are already a part of the transition so far, resulting in 16.5 gigawatts of renewable energy online in Apple’s supply chain today. This generated over 25.5 million megawatt-hours of clean energy across the supply chain last year, avoiding over 18.5 million metric tonnes of carbon emissions, says Apple.