‘Green’ Apple: India plans include solar projects, clean water

Smartphone giants Apple are thinking green when it comes to future investments in India. Along with manufacturing popular hi-tech gadgets such as the iPhone, the iPad, the Apple Watch and the MacBook, the American multinational brand, which hopes to hit the $14 billion mark with India production in 2024, has plans to initiate renewable solar energy projects in the country.

The company’s eco-friendly drive in India would include focus on rooftop solar projects and the supply of potable water in collaboration with local entrepreneurs, besides focus on water security and the ecosystem. Apple’s initiative to replenish fresh water in the most severely affected areas across the world where the company operates includes the Indian states of Maharashtra and Telangana.

“To address its growing corporate operations in India, Apple has created a joint venture with leading renewable developer CleanMax to invest in a portfolio of six rooftop solar projects with a total size of 14.4 megawatts. The added capacity provides a local solution to power Apple's offices, its two retail stores in the country and other operations in India,” the company said in a statement announcing its drive for sustainability.

“Since water impacts are felt locally, Apple has initiated fresh water replenishment work in some of the highest-stress locations where the company operates — including Northern and Southern California, Arizona’s Colorado River Basin, and Indian states of Telangana and Maharashtra. Modelled after the company’s approach to renewable energy procurement, Apple is pursuing innovative strategies and long-term contracts aimed at delivering water benefits and savings across entire watersheds. Since 2023, Apple has so far committed over $8 million to replenish fresh water in high-stress watersheds. The projects announced today are expected to deliver a combined 6.9 billion gallons of water benefits over the next two decades,” Apple added.

“In 2023, Apple’s support provided 23 million gallons of clean, affordable drinking water to communities from over 300 water kiosks run by local entrepreneurs,” Apple said about its drive in India.

The consumer electronics and computer software giant recently introduced iOS 17.4, which has key enhancements for iPhone users. Apple now plan to introduce the iOS 17.5, which the company has been testing lately. Details on what new features will be added in iOS 17.5 are yet to be confirmed by Apple, although reports suggest the upgrade is necessitated by regulatory changes in the European Union (EU) nations.