Apple makes renewable energy push with solar, fuel cells

AN FRANCISCO (REUTERS) - Apple Inc now runs its largest United States (US) data center entirely on renewable energy, with a majority of the power generated on-site from solar panels and fuel cells, the company's chief financial officer, Mr Peter Oppenheimer, said on Thursday.

The data center in Maiden, North Carolina, which supports Internet storage and Apple's service-hosting iCloud product, produces 167 million kilowatts - the power equivalent of 17,600 homes for one year - from a 40.5 ha solar farm and fuel cell installations provided by Silicon Valley startup Bloom Energy.

They are the largest, non-utility power-generating facilities of their kind in the United States (US), Mr Oppenheimer told Reuters.

"We switched over to these new energy sources in December," he said. "And we are committed to generating 60 per cent of the electricity that the data center will use by making power on site. We are now achieving that goal."

People walk past the Apple logo near an Apple Store at a shopping area in central Beijing on Feb 19, 2013.  Apple now runs its largest United States (US) data center entirely on renewable energy, with a majority of the power generated on-site from solar panels and fuel cells, the company's chief financial officer, Mr Peter Oppenheimer, said on Thursday. -- FILE PHOTO: REUTERS

http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/technology/story/apple-makes-renewable-energy-push-solar-fuel-cells-20130322