Apple is looking to invest more than €400m directly to fund at least six renewable energy projects in Ireland.

The firm has invited partnership proposals from green energy developers to set up multiple new projects, with each having a power generation capacity of up to 50MW, reports The Irish Times.

Apple has planned the projects to meet the energy requirements of its proposed €850m data centre at Athenry in Galway County, Ireland.

Energy requirements of the data centre, which will support Apple’s services including iTunes, Maps and Siri, is expected to be more than 300MW.

The firm has, however, not specified the source from which the renewable energy for the centre will be derived. Wind farm developers are more likely to be considered for the development.

Apple might sign up for power purchase agreements for the Galway facility, according to a tender on Ariba.com. The firm will consider buying those assets as well, after they become operational.

The power purchase agreements, if any, will cover the duration of 20 years, the Irish daily reported.

The firm is seeking projects from within the Republic of Ireland and wants them to be commissioned by 2017 or 2018. Proximity of the proposed projects to the data centre will be considered as a positive aspect.

Power-Technology