Summary 
Apple, a leading American tech giant, is showing its growing interest in renewable energy development in China, even amid trade tensions with the U.S. On July 13, Apple announced plans for a $300 million US dollar (USD) investment to launch a clean energy fund in China. The fund aims to develop renewable energy projects and generate more than 1 Gigawatt of clean energy which hopes to power 1 million households in China. Ten initial suppliers will invest with Apple for the fund over next four years, including Pegatron Corporation, Wistron Corporation, and Luxshare Precision Industry Corporation. One of the investors, DWS Group (the asset management branch of Deutsche Bank), will manage the China Clean Energy Fund as a third party. Similar to Apple’s approach, Facebook is increasing efforts to build a positive relationship with the Chinese government and consumers through their recent investments. Last year, Apple revealed two investment plans for research and development centers in Shanghai and Suzhou, which will focus on working with local partners to develop new technologies and help to close the gap between research and production.
FAO Global Assessment
China is a rising environmental leader and renewable energy developer. Set to transform to a more sustainable economy, China is not only creating policy incentives for firms to adopt environmental friendly strategies, but it is lowering barriers to attract foreign companies to invest in clean energy technologies. It is predicted that China will be the largest market for renewable energy cars, which meets Apple’s ambition to enter the electronic cars industry. Giant tech and automakers are investing heavily into Chinese renewable energy markets, such as Tesla, an American electronic car maker who just invested millions of dollars to build its first local factory in Shanghai. Local production will secure the market as well as lower the cost for foreign automakers. Downstream sensor suppliers and New Energy Vehicle (NEV) companies are in hot demand for Chinese investors.
Related Links
- Reuters– Apple launches $300 million green energy fund in China
- Bloomberg- Apple Announces $300 Million China Clean Energy Fund
- Apple– Apple launches new clean energy fund in China
- Financial Times- Apple launches $300m clean energy fund in China
- Greenbiz– Apple fronts clean energy fund to invest $300 million in China
- 华尔街见闻– 苹果在中国成立清洁能源基金：规模3亿美元 将向全球推广
Analyst Bio
Weiting Li -International Policy Associate-
Weiting Li is an international policy intern at FAO Global, where she focuses on international trade, technology, and environmental policies. Weiting is currently a second year graduate student pursuing dual master’s degrees in public policy at Georgetown University and Business Administration at University of Geneva. Prior to Georgetown, she was the assistant for government relations and working groups at European Chamber of Commerce in China. She graduated from Gettysburg College with a major in Sociology and a minor in Business.
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