Apple Gets Approved to Sell Its Excess Solar Energy
This past Saturday (August 6, 2016), Apple Energy LLC (a subsidiary of Apple Inc.) was approved to start selling excess solar energy to public utility companies produced by its solar farm and facilities.
Yes, you heard correct! Apple, the company that has revolutionized how we listen to music, talk on Smartphones, search the Web, and a slew of other day-to-day activities now will sell clean, renewable energy.
Apple Energy LLC
Apple silently put together Apple Energy LLC in May when it filed with the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to sell its excess energy. And while nothing is ever a secret with Apple, speculations soared when the media got hold of their filing. Will they sell to homeowners and business owners? Is this a stepping stone for their rumored electric car?
While we don’t know if this new initiative confirms Apple’s rumored charging stations and electric batteries for an “Apple Car”, we do know they will sell their solar energy surplus. Although not allowed to sell directly to consumers, on Thursday, August 4th, the FERC granted Apple Energy LLC to sell its excess electricity to wholesale markets.
Solar energy powers Apple’s offices and data centers from its two small facilities located in Nevada and Arizona. The facility in Nevada produces 20 megawatts, while the facility in Arizona generates 50 megawatts of electricity.
The bigger solar investment that also powers Apple’s offices and data centers is the 130-megawatt solar farm it purchased in 2015 for $850 million for a 25 year term. The farm is a 2,900 acre power facility in Monterey County, California.
Apple’s main goal with their solar energy initiatives is to one day be able to solely use 100% renewable energy (right now they are achieving 93% globally). Apple is a company like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon wanting to reduce our carbon footprint to make our planet greener.
“We take the same innovative approach to the environment that we do with our products. We’re creating new solar energy projects to reduce our carbon footprint. We’re switching to greener materials to create safer products and manufacturing processes. We’re protecting working forests and making sure they are managed sustainably. We’re even creating a more mindful way to recycle devices using robots.” – http://www.apple.com/environment/