DAVID AURIAU, CO-FOUNDER AND CEO OF POSITIVE ZERO, SHARES INSIGHTS ON THE COMPANY’S
PARTNERSHIPS WITH INDUSTRY LEADERS LIKE BLACKROCK, DP WORLD AND AL JALILA FOUNDATION, THE
CHALLENGES OF REGIONAL EXPANSION, AND THE FUTURE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY IN THE REGION TO GULF BUSINESS - BY NEESHA SALIAN
Tell us about your partnership with BlackRock and how that has boosted growth and expansion.
BlackRock is the world’s largest asset manager and, as we announced in December, through a diversified infrastructure fund, it is investing up to $400m. BlackRock has a strong track record and experience in energy and power infrastructure investments, as well as strong ties with the region over many years, so it was a boost for Positive Zero, underlining the strength of our decarbonisation model and strategic approach. We have expanded our remit regionally,
including several partnerships in Saudi Arabia to develop and finance commercial approach encompasses solutions from our three verticals, including generation, efficiency and mobility. For generation, we help many commercial and industrial operations to generate their own power through our distributed solar company SirajPower. We are the largest provider of decentralised solar infrastructure in the Middle East, operating across more than 700 facilities.
For efficiency, improving energy consumption within any business is paramount, so we help to monitor and track energy usage across facilities and assets. From this, we can make intelligent decisions, with realtime data, to plan and optimise energy management and potentially upgrade or retrofit assets. Positive Zero’s business Taka and industrial solar power solutions, a new renewable energy project with the Royal University for Women Bahrain, and our latest announcement to provide an endto- end sustainability roadmap for Al Jalila Foundation. Ultimately, leaders within the region are aligned towards net-zero targets and we are well-positioned to deliver the solutions required across many sectors.
How do Positive Zero’s end-to-end sustainability solutions support clients in building a clean energy future?
Firstly, we help businesses understand how they can decarbonise their operations to cut emissions, meet sustainability targets and crucially cut operating costs. Our approach encompasses solutions from our three verticals, including generation, efficiency and mobility. For generation, we help many commercial and industrial operations to generate their own power through our distributed solar company SirajPower. We are the largest provider of decentralised solar infrastructure in the Middle East, operating across more than 700 facilities.
For efficiency, improving energy consumption within any business is paramount, so we help to monitor and track energy usage across facilities and assets. From this, we can make intelligent decisions, with real-time data, to plan and optimise energy management and potentially upgrade or retrofit assets. Positive Zero’s business Taka Solutions takes care of energy efficiency services.
The third pillar of our decarbonisation solutions is the electrification of fleet and charging infrastructure, including our innovative on-demand energy solution, which we deliver through HYPR. We support businesses in identifying and adopting clean mobility options across their business. In addition, remote operations such as construction sites often require energy, so we provide clean, on-demand renewable battery solutions to replace noisy and fume-emitting diesel generators. Across our three business verticals of efficiency, generation, and mobility, we support our clients in adopting cleaner energy solutions, reducing emissions, and protecting the environment. Importantly, we also provide financing through the introduction of a decarbonisation-as-a-service model. No upfront costs are required from our clients, who only pay for the energy services used. This is a real game changer for many businesses who want to decarbonise, as we take care of the capital expenditure, so there is no upfront investment required.
"POSITIVE ZERO IS HELPING BUSINESSES TAKE CHARGE OF THEIR ENERGY FUTURE AND THE SOLUTIONS THAT WE PROVIDE ARE SECTOR AGNOSTIC.”
Can you share more details about your recent partnerships with DP World, RUW, and Al Jalila? How do these collaborations align with your company’s overall vision and goals?
Positive Zero is helping businesses take charge of their energy future, and the solutions we provide are sector-agnostic. The common thread is that we form long-term, scalable partnerships that deliver substantial cost and emissions savings. We want to empower a new energy economy, and to do this, we have to make the decarbonisation process fast, simple, and profitable. Of course, each business has different requirements. For example, our partnership with Royal University for Women (RUW) Bahrain entails the installation and operation of a solar carport and enables us to showcase to the next generation the importance of preserving our planet. For Al Jalila Foundation, following the successful implementation of a solar rooftop and carport, we have now expanded our partnership into a full decarbonisation roadmap, including energy efficiency and mobility solutions. DP World is a long-standing client, and we currently have extensive operating solar assets at the port, which we are adding to, as well as supporting more extensive decarbonisation of operations at the port in line with their ambition of reaching net zero by 2050.
Are there any upcoming deals with prominent government or private sector entities that you can reveal? How will these deals impact the renewable energy landscape in the region?
There is an ocean of opportunity for businesses of all shapes and sizes to decarbonise their operations. Governments are investing in large utility-scale renewable energy projects, while we operate at the commercial and industrial scale. It’s important to understand that the government and private sector are inherently connected through the implementation of country visions and regulations. There are different regulatory frameworks in different markets for decentralised power infrastructure, and we must adhere to them. Our approach fully supports net zero strategies, and there is very positive momentum towards the adoption of renewable energy solutions. We have an array of new partnerships and the expansion of existing agreements in the pipeline, covering sectors as diverse as healthcare, logistics, aviation, banking, and education.
How crucial are government collaborations to your business strategy?
Government collaborations are essential for achieving long-term sustainability goals. They provide a stable and supportive framework within which businesses like ours can operate and innovate.
What are your plans for expanding operations in the Middle East and North Africa region. Which countries or markets are you targeting next, and why?
At the current time, our core markets are the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman. There is such a big opportunity within these areas that we are concentrating our resources on offering a breadth of decarbonisation services in these countries.
What challenges have you faced during your regional expansion? Similarly, can you share the opportunities in the renewable energy sector here?
Navigating different regulatory landscapes and policy frameworks across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman has been a significant challenge. Each country has its own set of regulations, approval processes, and compliance requirements.
How do your current projects contribute to global sustainability efforts?
COP28 in the UAE brought the world’s leaders to the region to discuss how to tackle the biggest environmental and climate challenges. It is clear that progress has been too slow, so the outcomes encouraged governments on a global scale to triple renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency improvements by 2030. As a decarbonisation company, Positive Zero is supporting the outcomes of COP28 and helping businesses across the region transition to cleaner, sustainable energy. Through our projects, more than 250,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions are prevented from entering the atmosphere every year—and that figure is growing with each new project we sign. To put this into perspective, that’s like removing nearly 55,000 cars from the road or planting four million trees.
What technological innovations is your company implementing to advance renewable energy solutions?
Each of our business verticals has proprietary processes and technology. One of the technological developments we are most proud of is our platform TakaUnify, developed in-house to provide visibility and guidance for users on achieving an energy-efficient facility. This pioneering technology is crucial for running facilities in the most sustainable way. Similarly, HYPR Energy (solar-charged, on-demand batteries) uses proprietary technology to predict demand and reduce operational costs across sites.
How do regional policies and regulations support or hinder your operations?
Many governments in the region have shown a strong commitment to sustainability through national strategies like the UAE’s Green Agenda 2030 and Net Zero Strategy 2050, Saudi Vision 2030, and the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI). These frameworks provide clear goals and support for renewable energy initiatives, aligning with our mission and facilitating our operations.
How do you see the renewable energy sector evolving in the next decade, and what role will your company play in that evolution?
The Middle East is transitioning towards renewable energy, underpinned by strong government support. While the region is a global leader in oil and gas production, there is every reason to believe it can also become a leader in renewable energy, particularly solar and wind power. We predict a future where the Middle East has integrated, connected, and sustainable clean energy systems, with decentralised energy infrastructure playing a key role. Over the next decade, governments and the private sector will accelerate investment in renewable energy generation, efficiency solutions, and the electrification of transport and mobility. Operating across all these areas, we are optimistic about playing a significant role in shaping this future.
"MANY GOVERNMENTS IN THE REGION HAVE SHOWN A STRONG COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH NATIONAL STRATEGIES LIKE THE UAE’S GREEN AGENDA 2030 AND NET ZERO STRATEGY 2050, SAUDI VISION 2030 AND SAUDI GREEN
INITIATIVE (SGI). THESE FRAMEWORKS PROVIDE CLEAR GOALS AND SUPPORT FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY INITIATIVES, WHICH ALIGN WITH OUR MISSION AND FACILITATE OUR OPERATIONS.”