Tech giant Apple Inc. has announced its collaboration on the construction of a 105-megawatt photovoltaic plant in Segovia, Spain. Slated for completion by the end of 2024, the project, named Castaño Solar, marks a significant stride in Apple's ambitious agenda to achieve carbon neutrality across its entire value chain by 2030.
The endeavor, undertaken in partnership with the international solar development platform Ib Vogt, aims to offset the electrical energy consumption associated with charging and operating electronic devices. Once operational, the plant is projected to produce an energy equivalent to mitigating 57,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
Highlighting the environmental ethos underpinning the initiative, Ib Vogt director Anton Milner remarked, “Spain has become an important market for photovoltaic solar energy, with great opportunities for companies to benefit from low-cost, low-carbon solar energy.”
Moreover, beyond the realm of renewable energy production, the collaboration extends to encompass various environmental initiatives. These include reforestation projects focused on local flora and fauna within the plant's vicinity, the installation of nest boxes to support native bird populations, and the establishment of a protected habitat spanning at least 10 hectares.
Addressing concerns regarding the project's impact on local wildlife, Apple assured that construction activities would halt during the breeding season to safeguard the indigenous fauna inhabiting the area.
Employing cutting-edge technology, the photovoltaic plant will utilize state-of-the-art bifacial solar panels integrated into a single-axis tracking system, aiming to optimize energy generation.
