Tech giant Apple Inc. unveiled a new plan to develop 200MW of solar PV power plants in northern, eastern and southern China. The announcement follows the completion of its 40MW Sichuan solar plant built in cooperate with SunPower and Zhonghuan Semiconductor. Apple’s long-term plan is to build up to 2GW of clean energy in the nation.

There are two reasons for Apple to continuously invest in developing renewable energies in China: to power the company’s locations in China, and to offset the company’s carbon emissions.

The 40MW Sichuan solar power plant generates enough electricity for powering Apple’s China office and 24 retails in the Greater China region. Sina, a Chinese online media, points out that the Sichuan plant help Apple reach carbon neutral in the country.

“We are responsible to protecting the environment,” said Tim Cook in an interview with a Chinese media in this May. “We plan to power all of the Apple offices and retails by renewable energy resources in the long run.”

Foxconn, Apple’s major manufacturing partner, supports Apple by announcing to invest in developing 400MW of solar PV projects in Henan province by 2018. The 400MW projects are expected to fully power Foxconn’s Zhengzhou plant – the iPhone manufacturing and assembling facility.

“Foxconn and Apple share the same vision for sustainability,” said Terry Gou, founder and CEO of Foxconn.

Apple will also work with Chines supply chain to develop the totaling 2GW clean energy resources in the great nation.

Apple hired Lisa Jackson as the company’s vice president of Environment Initiatives in 2013. Her experiences and investment plans in renewable energy helped Apple slash 13% of carbon emissions from FY2011 to 2013 even the power consumption rapidly grew 44% in the same period.

(Photo Credit: Zhonghuan Semiconductor)