Apple is looking at renewable energy to power its €850 million data centre-to-be in Galway, Ireland.
The company said the investment to power the facility could reach more than €400 million, with the company currently considering direct investment in at least six Irish green energy projects.
The hub will require capacity estimated at more than 300MW, with Apple having received different proposals from developers for different energy plans, each up to 50MW.
In a tender on Ariba.com, Apple said it is "most interested" in agreements with developers to purchase electricity. However, it "would consider purchasing in their entirety such assets" once they come onstream.
If the company chooses a power purchase agreement contracts will last for up to 20 years, with the tender going on to say that "additionally, if there is an opportunity for an acquisition or investiment by Apple, provide the structure pricing for such an arrangement".
Apple added that it will only consider projects based in the Republic of Ireland which can show ways of being ready to function by 2017 or 2018. The closer the bids are to the Athenry campus, the higher their chances will be.
Prosals will also have to be eligible for subsidies under the State’s REFIT program, which applies to onshore wind, hydro and biomass.
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Kenneth Matthews, CE for IWEA said: "Ireland is a hub for these facilities. We know of a long queue of companies similar to Apple who want to build them."
The Irish Wind Energy Association said plans for more data centres in the country are a "vote of confidence that shows renewable energy is an enabler of foreign direct investment".
