Union Coop and Positive Zero Launch Major Retail Solar Project
Union Coop, the UAE’s largest consumer cooperative, has partnered with Positive Zero, a key provider of decentralized clean energy solutions, to launch one of the Middle East’s largest solar energy initiatives in the retail sector. This transformative project will see solar photovoltaic (PV) systems installed on the rooftops and parking areas of Union Coop locations across Dubai and Umm Al Quwain.
The agreement was formalized at Union Coop’s headquarters in Al Warqa City Mall, Dubai. Present at the event were Mohamed Al Hashemi, CEO of Union Coop; Mohammed Abdulghaffar Hussain, Chairman of Positive Zero; Ahmed Al Zarooni, Chief Real Estate Officer of Union Coop; David Auriau, CEO of Positive Zero; and Laurent Longuet, CEO of Positive Zero’s Generation business. Several distinguished guests also attended the ceremony.
Large-Scale Impact and Carbon Reduction
The project, expected to be completed by mid-2026, will span up to 30 Union Coop sites. It will include the Umm Al Quwain Coop headquarters, managed by Union Coop. Once operational, the 17.3-megawatt system is forecast to generate approximately 29.23 gigawatt-hours of clean electricity annually. This is sufficient to power over 4,000 homes, underscoring the initiative’s large-scale energy impact.
Moreover, the initiative is projected to reduce carbon emissions by as much as 21,650 tons each year. This reduction equals the environmental benefit of planting nearly 325,000 trees. Importantly, the effort supports both the UAE Net Zero 2050 Strategic Initiative and the UAE Energy Strategy 2050, which targets a 30% share of clean energy in the national energy mix by 2030.
Leaders Emphasize Long-Term Commitment
Mohamed Al Hashemi, CEO of Union Coop, remarked:
“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 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.”
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.”
David Auriau, CEO of Positive Zero, shared his views as well:
“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.”
Broader Sustainability Efforts Continue
Beyond this solar initiative, Union Coop continues to pursue sustainability across multiple fronts. The cooperative has already banned single-use plastic bags and adopted eco-friendly packaging. Furthermore, it actively collaborates with both public and private sector partners to reduce supply chain emissions. Through these combined efforts, Union Coop reaffirms its role as a retail leader committed to environmental stewardship.
