Apple has signed a long-term power purchase agreement in Italy to source clean energy from three wind farms and two agrivoltaic plants scheduled to go online between 2026 and 2027. The projects will provide a combined installed capacity of 173 megawatts – enough to supply thousands of households with renewable electricity.
Under the fifteen-year deal, two agrivoltaic sites totaling 88 MW and two wind farms producing 74 MW will be built, along with the repowering of an existing 11 MW wind facility. The agreement strengthens Apple’s commitment to carbon neutrality across its global operations while supporting Italy’s renewable energy transition.
Agrivoltaic systems combine solar power production with agricultural use on the same land. The dual-axis panels – able to rotate horizontally and vertically – follow the sun’s movement throughout the day to capture maximum light and boost efficiency. Their shade also helps cool the soil and reduce water evaporation, a crucial advantage in times of drought and extreme heat. By integrating crops and energy production, agrivoltaics lower land consumption and counter the argument that renewables compete with farming.
This model benefits farmers as well. It allows them to cut irrigation costs and energy bills when the electricity produced powers greenhouses or other farm operations, helping to make agricultural businesses more resilient and self-sufficient. Agrivoltaics thus serve both environmental and economic goals – supporting clean energy while protecting rural income.
Apple’s partnership follows similar renewable energy initiatives in Italy with major U.S. tech companies. In 2023, an agrivoltaic park near Trapani began producing 66 MW of power for Amazon, using bifacial panels that capture light from both sides for higher output. And in early 2024, the Italian energy group Erg signed a twenty-year agreement with Google for electricity from the Roccapalumba wind farm in Sicily, a 47 MW facility that underscores the growing synergy between technology and sustainability.
