How Apple tech is used in the renewable energy industry

Apple management took a few moments during the company’s record-setting Q4 earnings call to mention iOS device deployment at Vestas. Here’s how Apple’s solutions are being used at one of the world’s leading wind turbine manufacturers.

The future for power production

Based in Aarhus, Denmark, Vestas employs over 25,000 staff worldwide building turbines that generate over 117GW of power across 76 countries. It has installed wind turbines in a variety of terrains, from Mongolia’s Gobi desert to the arctic winters of Lapland.

Vestas has been using Apple’s solutions for years. Speaking during the call, Apple’s CFO, Luca Maestri, explained some of the ways they are being used now:

“Vestas is using Apple products and native iOS apps extensively across their operations to deliver renewable energy efficiently to customers worldwide,” he said/

“For instance, they use iPads to help optimize on-site construction operations, reducing crane usage, on average, by one day per project. The company’s field technicians are using iPhone for work orders, troubleshooting and remote collaboration, saving them 400,000 service hours annually.

“More recently, they have started piloting the augmented reality capability in iPads to help customers visualize wind turbine installations in the field.”

Apple has published a video explaining how Vestas uses Apple’s solutions to run its business more efficiently.

Examples include:

• Cranes: One of the largest costs of any turbine installation project is the crane that helps put the systems up. Vestas claims it can save a day on crane hire for each project, generating real cost savings worth millions of dollars per year, thanks in part to its apps running on Apple solutions.
• Maintenance: The company has more than 10,000 field service technicians. They use iPhones loaded with apps to maintain machinery, saving it in excess of 400,000 hours per year.
• Factories and warehouses: Vestas claims use of iPhones and iPads across its manufacturing and warehousing facilities has boosted efficiency. For example, warehouse workers are saving an estimated hour each per week which can be diverted to other tasks.

Keep it (user) friendly

The vital importance of designing enterprise-class apps that are also user friendly cannot be overstated. Jamf CEO Dean Hager puts it well: “Technology has become the entire employee experience.”

The notion reflects a reality in which there is no value in making tasks more complex with digital tools when the aim is to enhance productivity and make life easier for staff.