GEMS signs biggest solar energy deal in UAE’s education sector

GEMS Education and Positive Zero have signed the largest renewable energy deal in the UAE education sector to date. The deal covers the design, engineering, installation, and maintenance of solar rooftops, carports, and bus parking across 23 GEMS schools in Dubai.

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The recently 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.

Impact of the initiative

This particular initiative is expected to reduce 14,276 metric tonnes 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.

“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,” Dino Varkey, Group Chief Executive Officer of GEMS Education, said, reflecting on the benefits of the deal.

He further accentuated this by stating that the education group is contributing to the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 Strategy by harnessing solar power and is also instilling a sense of environmental responsibility in students, who are the leaders of tomorrow. The teaching of climate literacy has long been emphasised in GEMS schools, and it is through this agreement that those teachings can be translated into actions for the students.

This particular partnership is in complete alignment with the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 Strategy, intended to drive the country’s transition towards net-zero emissions.

“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 decarbonisation of its operations through our solutions, in addition to integrating climate literacy across people development, curricula, and student initiatives,” David Auriau, Chief Executive Officer of Positive Zero, said.

How GEMS education furthers sustainability

GEMS Education has substantially helped in reducing greenhouse gas emissions across its schools as well as other operations, by placing the harnessing of solar energy as an integral part of its ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) and sustainability strategy.

“This milestone is just the beginning of our broader sustainability journey focused on reducing our environmental impact and promoting a greener future for all. It builds on our ongoing initiatives as we continue pushing boundaries to drive meaningful change and create a lasting impact. It stands as a testament to our dedication to a greener, more sustainable future,” Ovais Chhotani, Chief Financial Officer of GEMS Education, reiterated, emphasising the advantages of the agreement.

Each of GEMS’ 23 schools selected for this initiative will progress towards commissioning and completion, expected at the beginning of 2026.

GEMS Education has embedded climate literacy in the curriculum of its schools, furthering the mandate of sustainability even more. This includes the mission of having a United Nations-accredited Climate Change Teacher in every classroom, as well as longstanding programmes of student-led and educator-led sustainability initiatives.

Not only is the education group driving sustainability at the levels of students’ education but also at the corporate level and within the wider community through student-led COP-style events, debates, energy efficiency, waste management, water conservation initiatives, and much more.

This latest agreement builds on GEMS’ collaboration with Positive Zero and its distributed generation business, SirajPower, which previously provided GEMS with an EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) contract for a solar project at the net-zero-energy GEMS Founders School – Masdar City in Abu Dhabi.