Apple part of third-party solar certification program in Singapore and Taiwan
Apple and the Center for Resource Solutions are launching a new solar certification program in Singapore and Taiwan by certifying the Wan Ja Shan soy sauce brewery's solar installation.
The Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) is expanding its Green-e certification program to renewable energy projects based in Asia. The first projects are in conjunction with Apple, and are located in Singapore and Taiwan.
"CRS is excited to launch its Green-e renewable energy standard in Singapore and Taiwan with Apple's support," said CRS Executive Director Jennifer Martin. "The new Singapore and Taiwan standards and Apple's pilot projects will create opportunities to rapidly increase renewable energy development and adoption throughout Asia."
Wan Ja Shan Brewery manager Tony Chung told Bloomberg News that it took 18 months of discussion with Apple for a deal to be reached. The project appears to be an extension of a program that the brewery started five years ago. Outside of the manufacturing and supply chain, this appears to be Apple's first solar deal with a third party.
Chung says that the solar project, which will involve a 50,000 square meter roof, will start before the end of 2019. Wan Ja Shan Brewery co-developed this rooftop solar array and secured a long-term contract with Apple to own the project's renewable energy certificates.
CRS previously worked with Apple to complete the pilot certification of Apple's 32-megawatt 800-rooftop solar project in Singapore. This energy is now certified under the Green-e Energy program's Direct certification option, which is designed for organizations building generation themselves or contracting renewable energy directly.
When asked for comment, Apple referred to its environmental initiatives page.
Apple has been working toward net zero energy for years, starting with a promise to power its Maiden, N.C., data center with renewable resources in 2012. Identical projects involving solar, wind and fuel cell solutions have rolled out with each new facility, including a $2 billion data center in Mesa, Ariz.
In 2016, Apple joined the RE100 initiative, effectively pledging to transition its worldwide infrastructure to renewable energy sources.
After significant investments, Apple reached the net zero milestone in April 2018.
The Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) is expanding its Green-e certification program to renewable energy projects based in Asia. The first projects are in conjunction with Apple, and are located in Singapore and Taiwan.
"CRS is excited to launch its Green-e renewable energy standard in Singapore and Taiwan with Apple's support," said CRS Executive Director Jennifer Martin. "The new Singapore and Taiwan standards and Apple's pilot projects will create opportunities to rapidly increase renewable energy development and adoption throughout Asia."
Wan Ja Shan Brewery manager Tony Chung told Bloomberg News that it took 18 months of discussion with Apple for a deal to be reached. The project appears to be an extension of a program that the brewery started five years ago. Outside of the manufacturing and supply chain, this appears to be Apple's first solar deal with a third party.
Chung says that the solar project, which will involve a 50,000 square meter roof, will start before the end of 2019. Wan Ja Shan Brewery co-developed this rooftop solar array and secured a long-term contract with Apple to own the project's renewable energy certificates.
CRS previously worked with Apple to complete the pilot certification of Apple's 32-megawatt 800-rooftop solar project in Singapore. This energy is now certified under the Green-e Energy program's Direct certification option, which is designed for organizations building generation themselves or contracting renewable energy directly.
When asked for comment, Apple referred to its environmental initiatives page.
Apple has been working toward net zero energy for years, starting with a promise to power its Maiden, N.C., data center with renewable resources in 2012. Identical projects involving solar, wind and fuel cell solutions have rolled out with each new facility, including a $2 billion data center in Mesa, Ariz.
In 2016, Apple joined the RE100 initiative, effectively pledging to transition its worldwide infrastructure to renewable energy sources.
After significant investments, Apple reached the net zero milestone in April 2018.
Comments
In Singapore and Taiwan? Who knows what the tax code is there. They’ll likely have similar financial tools for businesses though. For renewable energy, Apple probably takes advantages of any lower taxes levied on feeding power into the grid from their energy plants (solar, wind, hydro), or takes advantage of it as part of their power purchase agreements between power provider - utility- consumer. They often are the power provider and the consumer, so there might be a reduction in “taxes” due to that, resulting in cheaper power costs for them.
As for putting solar panels on someone else’s roof, that’s not uncommon. A lot of companies do this as there primary source of business. They essentially lease someone’s roof to put solar panels there. The roof owner gets a bit of money, the panel owners get more power to sell to the utility, and if it is in a deregulated market, sell as energy units to the market of energy buyers. I think Sunrun (or is it Sunpower?) does this as big part of their business. Nothing unusual about it. In Singapore, that may be the primary way a solar generation company can do it as it’s basically nothing but dense housing and buildings with very little free spaces.