GEMS Education and Positive Zero, a decarbonization pioneer, have signed the largest renewable energy deal in the UAE education sector to date.
The record agreement covers the design, engineering, installation, and maintenance of solar rooftops, carports, and bus parking across 23 GEMS schools in Dubai.
Across the various schools, the newly installed solar systems will collectively boast a capacity nearing 12.7 MWp, generating 21.25 GWh of electricity annually, enough to power 2,000 homes for a full year.
The initiative is projected to mitigate 14,276 metric tons of carbon emissions per year, equivalent to taking 3,300 cars off the road. Over the project’s lifespan, this reduction would equate to the environmental benefits of cultivating nearly 6 million trees.
Dino Varkey Group CEO – GEMS Education
“GEMS Education is proud to lead the way in terms of sustainability within the UAE’s education sector. This landmark agreement with Positive Zero not only underscores our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint but also aligns with our vision of integrating renewable energy at scale. By harnessing solar power, we are contributing to the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 Strategy while also instilling a sense of environmental responsibility in our students, the leaders of tomorrow. We have long emphasized the importance of teaching climate literacy in our schools, and, through this agreement, we take pride in continuing to put our words into action.”
This expansive new partnership aligns with the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 Strategy, driving the nation’s transition towards net-zero emissions. Positive Zero will also provide financing through long-term leasing, with no upfront investment required from GEMS Education.
David Auriau, Chief Executive Officer of Positive Zero, said that, “At the core of our partnership with GEMS Education is a shared commitment to sustainability. GEMS Education is taking tangible steps in this direction with the decarbonization of its operations through our solutions, in addition to integrating climate literacy across people development, curricula, and student initiatives. This bold and impressive commitment positions GEMS Education as a true leader in sustainability within the UAE’s education sector, and we are proud to be empowering their energy transition.”
Harnessing solar energy is a core part of GEMS Education’s ESG and sustainability strategy, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across its schools and operations.
GEMS Education has a robust mandate towards sustainability, with climate literacy embedded in the curriculum. This includes the mission of having a United Nations-accredited Climate Change Teacher in every classroom as well as longstanding programs of student-led and educator-led sustainability initiatives.
From student-led COP-style events and debates to energy efficiency, waste management, water conservation initiatives, and much more, GEMS Education is driving sustainability at a corporate level, in classrooms, and in the wider community.
This latest agreement builds on GEMS’ collaboration with Positive Zero and its distributed generation business, SirajPower, which previously provided GEMS with an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract for a solar project at the net-zero-energy GEMS Founders School – Masdar City in Abu Dhabi.
Each of the 23 schools chosen in Dubai for this latest renewable energy initiative will now progress toward commissioning and completion, which is expected in early 2026.
