Apple adds 650 megawatts of renewables in Europe with more coming in China

Core Insights - Apple has signed contracts for 650 megawatts of renewable power in Europe, including wind and solar projects, to offset energy use by its customers, which accounts for nearly one-third of its carbon footprint [1][2] Group 1: Renewable Energy Contracts - The renewable energy contracts include solar farms in Greece (110 megawatts), Latvia (110 megawatts), Spain (131 megawatts), and Poland (40 megawatts), as well as wind farms in Romania (99 megawatts) and a solar-wind portfolio in Italy (129 megawatts) [2] - Apple is also investing $150 million in China to assist suppliers in transitioning to renewable energy, with over 90% of its manufacturing in China already powered by renewable sources [3] Group 2: Industry Trends - Tech companies, including Microsoft and Meta, are increasingly relying on solar and wind energy, with Meta adding over 2 gigawatts of solar capacity this year and Microsoft signing deals for an additional 1.5 gigawatts [5] - The shift to renewable energy is driven by practical considerations, as solar and wind are among the cheapest new generating capacities, undercutting coal and natural gas [7] - The speed of solar farm construction, typically completed in 18 months, allows tech companies to quickly secure power for their data centers and AI operations, which is crucial in a competitive landscape [8]