After installing a ground-breaking solar panel-based energy system on the roof of its car parking area, Swiss International School Dubai is the proud winner of ‘Solar Project of the Year’ at the Middle East Solar Industry Association annual awards.
The MESIA Solar Awards, held on December 6th at the Address Hotel, Marina, is the industry’s longest-standing, premier awards ceremony, now in its twelfth edition.
Chosen by an esteemed panel of expert judges, this year’s awards were very popular, being held during the UAE Year of Sustainability and the year Dubai hosts the COP28 talks.
Sustainability and environmental awareness are commonplace at the Al Jadaf-based school, from including sneakers made from recycled plastic on the uniform list to encouraging pupils to consider waste in fashion with competitions like Junk Kouture.
The innovative solar power panels, installed at the school by a local sustainable energy provider for businesses, Yellow Door Energy, during the summer break, will deliver enough power to meet around a quarter of the site’s energy needs.
Yellow Door Energy installed 1,366 solar panels atop the carport, covering 200 parking spots at the school.
School Head of Operations, Alexander Varghese, says: “We would like to thank the Middle East Solar Association and Yellow Door Energy for delivering us a truly sustainable energy solution, which has now given us more silver for our growing trophy cabinet!
“Our mission to create fully-rounded 21st century global citizens must include high awareness of sustainability in mind. We believe that seeing the solar panels in action – and understanding that they help provide a significant level of power to our school complex- will help pupils keep renewable energy sources front of mind as they step out in the world.”
Mr Varghese also highlighted the school’s many environmental initiatives, from saving water initiatives to an eco-friendly mud garden.
CEO of Yellow Door Energy, Jeremy Crane, commented “Sustainability and education go hand in hand, and we are honored to be recognized for this award – for the solar carport power plant for Swiss International Scientific School Dubai. As a UAE-founded company, Yellow Door Energy continues to strongly support the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 Target and COP28’s objectives. We look forward to operating and maintaining the solar carport, with the intention that it will inspire the students, teachers, and staff at the school for many years to come.”
Yellow Door Energy has provided SISD with a clean energy solution, which will have a remarkable, long-term effect on the entire school community.
The winning installation measures around 3,000 square meters – larger than three tennis courts – and will generate around 1,300MWh of clean energy each year, offsetting 920 metric tonnes of carbon emissions.
Yellow Door Energy expects the system to generate 30,680 MWh of clean energy over its expected lifetime of 25 years, avoiding 21,700 metric tons of carbon emissions.
