Apple on Sunday announced a deal that will see its Singapore operations fully powered by solar energy
SINGAPORE – Tech giant Apple is going all out to tackle climate change, turning to solar power to run its entire Singapore operations, including its upcoming Apple Store in Orchard Road, expanding on similar efforts in countries like the U.S. and China, and also confirmed an upcoming local Apple Store that will be the first in Southeast Asia.
Starting in January, solar energy developer Sunseap Group will provide Apple with 100 per cent renewable electricity from its portfolio of solar energy systems built atop more than 800 buildings in Singapore.
The deal will make Apple the first company in Singapore to run exclusively on renewable energy and marks a significant step in its bid to power 100 per cent of its facilities and operations worldwide with clean fuel.
The Apple partnership will also give Sunseap financing to complete the solar project, said Ms Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives.
Ms Jackson said in an interview with Reuters that the project was a model in “urban greening” and said it would allow Singaporeans “to get access to energy while we meet our own renewable energy goals”.
“We have more than 900 incredible employees working in our Singapore contact center and are thrilled to begin hiring the team that will open our first Apple Store in Singapore — an incredible international city and shopping destination,” Apple SVP of Retail Angela Ahrendts said. “We can’t wait to deliver the service, education and entertainment that is loved by Apple customers around the world.”
Apple also announced that it will open its first store in Singapore, which will be powered by the program.
In an exclusive interview with The Straits Times, Ms Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice-president of environment, policy and social initiatives, said: “Taking action on climate change has been a top priority for Apple.”
“Today, 100 per cent of our operations in the United States and China are powered by renewable energy. Worldwide, the figure is at more than 87 per cent.
“Singapore is at the Equator and is a good source of energy.”