Aldar Collaborates with Yellow Door Energy to Deliver 34 Megawatts of Solar Power to UAE Properties

Aldar Properties PJSC (Aldar) has joined forces with Yellow Door Energy, a leading sustainable energy organization, to introduce solar power across 45 properties in the UAE, aligning with the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative and Abu Dhabi’s 2030 Energy Strategy.

The partnership agreement between Aldar and Yellow Door Energy was formalized at COP28, signed by Salwa Al Maflahi, Aldar’s Director of Sustainability and Community Outreach, and Rory McCarthy, Chief Operating Officer of Yellow Door Energy.

This shift to solar energy is a key component of Aldar’s Net Zero Plan, launched in January 2023 to eliminate carbon emissions from its business and assets by 2050. Achieving a significant reduction in Aldar’s operational carbon footprint necessitates a successful energy transition built on collaborative efforts across sectors and responsible investments, aiming for long-term value creation.

Yellow Door Energy will finance, design, construct, operate, and maintain solar systems across 45 of Aldar’s retail, education, and hospitality assets for the next two decades. These systems, including rooftop, carport, and ground-mount solar photovoltaic (PV) applications, will generate 34 megawatts of clean energy, contributing to cost savings and operational resilience.

Starting in 2024, this solar transition is projected to reduce 23,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in its inaugural year, resulting in a 12% decrease in Aldar’s Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions related to purchased electricity compared to its 2022 baseline. Over the project’s lifetime, over 560,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions will be avoided. Aldar’s overall clean energy consumption across its portfolio will increase by 12%, with selected assets benefiting from up to a 25% increase.

Salwa Al Maflahi, Aldar’s Director of Sustainability and Community Outreach, stated, “The real estate sector plays a pivotal role in transitioning to sustainable power usage. Our partnership with Yellow Door Energy harnesses solar power, a natural resource in the UAE, supporting this shift while reducing energy expenses and advancing energy technology. At Aldar, we continue striving toward our net-zero goal and fostering greener spaces.”

Rory McCarthy, Chief Operating Officer of Yellow Door Energy, expressed support for Aldar’s sustainability journey toward Net Zero, emphasizing Yellow Door Energy’s decade-long commitment to helping UAE businesses achieve sustainability goals, including cost reduction and progress in sustainability.

In line with the UAE Energy Strategy 2050 to significantly increase renewable energy usage, Aldar is dedicated to implementing renewable energy in developments such as The Sustainable City in Yas Island, utilizing solar panels in parking structures and community measures to curtail carbon emissions, water consumption, energy usage, and waste.