Apple Working to Overhaul Renewable Energy Market in Taiwan

Apple is leading the way in overhauling the renewable energy market in Taiwan, where the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), iPhone maker’s key chip supplier, has committed to procure all of their energy from renewable sources by 2030 at Apple’s urging (via Quartz).

Apple renewable energy

Greening its supply chain is crucial to Apple’s goal to have a net-zero carbon footprint by 2030. Only about 1% of the company’s emissions come from its own stores and offices, whereas almost all the rest are from the factories that produce its products.

In Taiwan, where 90% of electricity comes from coal, natural gas, and nuclear, there isn’t enough clean energy to meet the new demand from Apple and other tech companies.

“In the case of Apple, pushing renewable energy is challenging because their suppliers are in markets where the local renewable energy capacity isn’t in place,” said Dexter Galvin, global director of corporates and supply chains at the UK-based Carbon Disclosure Project.

The TSMC offshore wind deal was the first by a tech supplier in Taiwan. Richard Hsu, an energy consultant in Taiwan, said the semiconductor company was eager to get ahead of its competition in catering to Apple.

Hsu, however, said that there’s still more the country needs to do to move the market forward, including training auditors, either in government or in independent agencies, to evaluate and certify renewable energy certificate (REC) deals.

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