Apple has signed a $848m power purchase agreement (PPA) with First Solar to receive 130MW of solar energy from the 280MW California Flats Solar Project in California, the US.

The agreement, which has been signed for a 25-year period, is claimed to be the largest in the industry, offering clean energy to any commercial end user.

The solar project is located in Monterey County in the US state. It is spread over 2,900 acres. It occupies 3% of a property owned by Hearst Corporation in Cholame, California.

Development works for the 280MW project are likely to start by the middle of 2015, and be finished by next year.

"Apple is leading the way in addressing climate change by showing how large companies can serve their operations with 100% clean, renewable energy."

First Solar chief commercial officer Joe Kishkill said: "Apple is leading the way in addressing climate change by showing how large companies can serve their operations with 100% clean, renewable energy.

"Over time, the renewable energy from California Flats will provide cost savings over alternative sources of energy, as well as substantially lower environmental impact."

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The remaining 150MW output from the project will be acquired by Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) under another long term PPA, First Solar informed.

The project had been previously approved by the Monterey County Planning Commission, however it is yet to receive final nod from the Monterey County Board of Supervisors.