Here’s one move you probably weren’t expecting from Apple. The company has quietly created a subsidiary dubbed “Apple Energy,” which will allow it to sell the excess electricity it generates from its solar farms.
Solar energy has been a huge focus for Apple in recent years as it looks to improve its environmental footprint and leave the world in a better place. It now has solar farms around the world that power its operations and data centers.
Apple still needs to use energy from the grid to keep its facilities going during the night, and its solar farms burn more than it needs during the day. So to be more renewable, Apple has to trade its excess for “net-metered” energy.
Now it could have even bigger plans. A set of filings with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, from Apple Energy LLC, suggests it is planning to sell some of its excess electricity to consumers — like like a regular energy company.
Apple explains in its filings that it meets the legal requirements to sell electricity to consumers at market rates because it isn’t already a major player in the energy business, and therefore doesn’t have enough power to influence energy prices.
Apple made the filings on June 6, and has requested permission to go ahead with its plans within 60 days. Providing all goes well, Apple solar energy could be the next thing you’re ordering from the Apple Online Store.
Source: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Via: 9to5Mac
Killian Bell is a freelance writer based in the U.K. He has an interest in all things tech and also covers Android over at CultofAndroid.com. You can follow him on Twitter via @killianbell.
3 responses to “Apple has so much green electricity it just became a power company”
Does anyone know the origins of the panels displayed at the top of the article?
@harleynolansr:disqus they’re from Apple’s website.. “Reno, Nevada – Solar Power – This data center uses solar panels with curved mirrors to track the sun’s movement across the sky, while concentrating the rays and providing a highly efficient form of solar energy.”
Like is repeated twice at the end of the fourth paragraph.