GEMS Education and Positive Zero have signed the UAE’s largest renewable energy deal in the education sector, covering the design, engineering, installation, and maintenance of solar panels on rooftops, carports, and bus parking at 23 GEMS schools in Dubai. The newly installed solar systems will have a combined capacity of nearly 12.7 MWp, generating 21.25 GWh of electricity annually—enough to power 2,000 homes for a year.
This initiative is expected to cut 14,276 metric tonnes of carbon emissions each year, equivalent to removing 3,300 cars from the roads. Over the project’s lifetime, this reduction compares to planting nearly six million trees. GEMS Education CEO Dino Varkey highlighted the organisation’s commitment to sustainability, stating that the agreement aligns with its goal of integrating renewable energy at scale. He emphasised that the initiative supports the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 Strategy while instilling environmental responsibility in students by turning climate education into real-world action. Positive Zero CEO David Auriau reaffirmed this commitment, stressing the importance of decarbonising school operations while promoting climate literacy.
GEMS Education has made solar energy a key part of its ESG strategy, significantly cutting emissions across its schools and operations. CFO Ovais Chhotani described the agreement as a milestone in GEMS’ long-term sustainability journey, reinforcing its commitment to reducing environmental impact. The 23 participating schools will complete their solar installations by early 2026. GEMS has also embedded climate literacy into its curriculum, aiming for a UN-accredited Climate Change Teacher in every classroom. Beyond education, it promotes sustainability at corporate and community levels through student-led climate initiatives, energy conservation, and waste management. This agreement builds on GEMS’ previous collaboration with Positive Zero and its subsidiary, SirajPower, which developed a solar project at the net-zero-energy GEMS Founders School in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi.
