Apple may release iWatch, invests in solar project

Apple has been actively trade marking the term “iWatch”, lending credence to rumours it’s getting set to release a new watch companion to the iPhone, reports Forbes.

Forbes adds Google may be developing a competing product, given the market for watches is currently robust. Read more.

Meanwhile, Apple officially announced it plans to pay for the construction of an 18-megawatt photovoltaic solar plant in northern Nevada, which will be used to power its coming data centre east of Reno.

Apple announced plans last year to build the data centre. The solar generating plant would be located in Lyon County, south of the facility. But the solar plant proposal must be approved by state regulators, a process that could take several months.

In a statement, Apple said the solar project would provide renewable energy for the data centre and add clean energy to the power grid.

“All of Apple’s data centres use 100% renewable energy and we are on track to meet that goal in our new Reno data centre using the latest in high-efficiency concentrating solar panels,” the company says.

Once completed, the 137-acre solar array would generate about 43.5 million kilowatt hours of renewable power. The amount of fossil fuel saved by going solar would be equivalent to taking 6,400 vehicles off the road each year, company officials adds.

The proposal is the first under a new program that allows electricity customers to buy more renewable energy than required under state portfolio standards.

“We’re excited to be in partnership with Apple on a new solar energy project, the first project under our new Green Energy Program,” says NV Energy president and CEO Michael Yackira.

The project will create hundreds of jobs in Lyon County, which has the highest unemployment rate in the state.