Latest news with #MohammedAbdulghaffarHussain
Hi Dubai
22-07-2025
- Business
- Hi Dubai
Union Coop and Positive Zero Launch one of the Middle East's Largest Retail Solar Energy Projects
Union Coop (UNIONCOOP:DFM), the largest consumer cooperative in the UAE, in partnership with Positive Zero, a leading provider of decentralised clean energy solutions, has launched one of the Middle East's largest solar energy projects in the retail sector. The long-term agreement will see the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on roofs and parking areas across Union Coop locations, aimed at significantly reducing carbon emissions and supporting the UAE's net-zero targets. The agreement was signed at Union Coop's headquarters in Al Warqa City Mall, Dubai in the presence of Mr. Mohamed Al Hashemi, CEO of Union Coop; Mr. Mohammed Abdulghaffar Hussain, Chairman of Positive Zero; Mr. Ahmed Al Zarooni, Chief Real Estate Officer of Union Coop; Mr. David Auriau, CEO of Positive Zero; and Mr. Laurent Longuet, CEO of Positive Zero's Generation business, along with other distinguished attendees. Scheduled for completion by mid-2026, the project will cover up to 30 Union Coop sites across Dubai and the Umm Al Quwain Coop headquarters (managed by Union Coop). With an installed capacity of 17.3 megawatts, the system is expected to produce approximately 29.23 gigawatt-hours of clean electricity annually—enough to power over 4,000 homes. The initiative will reduce carbon emissions by up to 21,650 tons each year, the equivalent environmental benefit of planting approximately 325,000 trees. It aligns with the UAE Net Zero 2050 Strategic Initiative and the UAE Energy Strategy 2050, which aims to raise clean energy's share to 30% of the national energy mix by 2030. Commenting on the milestone, Mohamed Al Hashemi, CEO of Union Coop, said: Today marks a landmark moment in Union Coop's journey to become a leader in sustainability. By integrating clean energy solutions into our daily operations, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting the UAE's vision for a net-zero future by 2050. Union Coop aims to serve as a role model in the retail sector by adopting innovative practices that reduce carbon emissions and create a lasting environmental impact. Our responsibility as a cooperative goes beyond serving the people, as we are equally committed to protecting the environment and embedding sustainable practices that ensure a brighter future for generations to come. For his part, Mohammed Abdulghaffar Hussain, Chairman of Positive Zero, added: Union Coop has an important heritage, serving the UAE community for decades. This project represents one of the largest retail chain solar agreements ever signed in the Middle East and Positive Zero's most extensive generation undertaking for the retail sector in the UAE to date. We look forward to a long, successful partnership with Union Coop and delivering major environmental benefits from this renewable energy mission. Echoing similar sentiments, David Auriau, CEO of Positive Zero, stated: Union Coop is making a major step forward in its sustainability journey with this distributed solar project. Our teams are already working together on the first phase, and by this time next year, we expect clean, renewable energy to be powering all agreed sites. Collaboratively, we will drive greater operational, economic and environmental sustainability and identify the potential for further clean energy innovations. Union Coop continues to champion sustainability through impactful initiatives, including banning single-use plastic bags, adopting eco-friendly packaging, and collaborating with public and private sectors to reduce supply chain emissions. To find out more about Positive Zero's projects, visit the link here. Source: Union Coop
Khaleej Times
28-02-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
BlackRock-backed Positive Zero records hypergrowth in 2024, doubling earnings and tripling capex investment
Region's fastest growing decarbonisation company anticipates even stronger results in 2025 Positive Zero, the Middle East's leading decarbonisation and energy transition provider, has revealed record growth over the past 12 months. Since aligning with the world's largest asset manager, BlackRock, in December 2023, Positive Zero has doubled its earnings and nearly tripled its capital expenditure on projects, year-on-year. Since then, the company has almost doubled its total solar power generation capacity, with the signing of 43 new distributed solar projects across the GCC region in 2024. In 2025, Positive Zero anticipates further growth in decentralised infrastructure across Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, and Oman. Businesses and industries across the region are exploring decarbonisation and renewable energy solutions, to reduce their carbon footprints and operational costs across facilities and equipment. 'Market dynamics are changing and many businesses have identified sustainability targets that align with national government Net Zero agendas. The private sector has a key role to play in decarbonisation through the implementation of renewables, energy efficiency and electrification. To support this, we are deploying capital to rapidly scale clean energy projects across the region and provide the necessary financing to ensure that decarbonisation is both practical and affordable for businesses,' said David Auriau, co-founder and CEO at Positive Zero. During the past year, Positive Zero has combined the region's largest distributed solar power business SirajPower, energy efficiency leader Taka Solutions and clean electric mobility pioneer Hypr Energy, under one unified umbrella. This new integrated model, which it calls 'Decarbonisation-as-a-Service', provides businesses with a suite of clean energy solutions such as solar powered rooftops and carports, hybrid systems, energy efficiency management, on-demand batteries, electric fleet management and charging infrastructure. Positive Zero also offers intelligent financing to provide businesses with subscription models that require no upfront investment. Positive Zero has also seen the growth of talent within its operations. The business has recently opened new offices in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Manama, Bahrain, hiring local talent to drive on-ground initiatives. Overall, its diverse regional team across UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain has grown over the last six months alone, bringing the total team to more than 150 people. Mohammed Abdulghaffar Hussain, co-founder and chairman of Positive Zero, said: 'Businesses like Amazon, Tesla, Netflix and Airbnb all started as challengers, disrupting long standing business models. Government and business leaders in the Middle East understand that we must change the way energy is generated and consumed, to be sustainable and economically competitive. Our business model clearly aligns with those goals and with robust financial backing, we are well positioned to take advantage in 2025 and beyond.' Through its sustainable business model, Positive Zero is supporting the visions of the region, including the UAE's Net Zero 2050 Strategy, Saudi Green Initiative, the Bahrain National Energy Strategy and Oman National Net Zero by 2050 plan. Overall, across its distributed solar power portfolio, energy efficiency and energy storage projects, fleet electrification and clean charging infrastructure, in 2024 Positive Zero supported a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of more than 250,000 tons. That is an equivalent amount to the carbon absorbed by 4 million trees over a decade. To find out more about Positive Zero, visit:
