As the Vice President of Key Account Development at Yellow Door Energy, I am responsible for driving results, growth and development of the business across a defined set of Strategic Key Accounts and managing a team of Key Account professionals. I have over a decade of experience in energy consultancy, asset management and insurance across Europe, Middle East and Africa. Prior to joining Yellow Door Energy, I served as Market Manager at DNV for Greece and the East Mediterranean region and prior to this, I led the technical advisory services business for Middle East and Africa. I graduated with a Master of Engineering (MEng) in Mechanical Engineering from University College London (UCL).

Tell us more about your journey in solar energy, when/where did it start, and how did you come to work with Yellow Door Energy?

I am a mechanical engineer by training, having started my career working on x-ray detectors in London and spending some time with Mercedes-Benz cars in Cyprus, where I am originally from.

My first job in solar was in the insurance industry, where I performed risk assessments on solar PV plants in Europe and around the world.

Fast forward to today, over a decade later, I am still passionate about the industry and am energized by the momentum that businesses and countries are taking to meet their Net Zero targets.

My time at DNV assisted in getting to know how key stakeholders in Europe and the Middle East are playing a major role in advancing the energy transition. At DNV, I served as Market Manager for Greece and the Mediterranean region. Prior to that, I led the renewable energy advisory services business for Middle East and Africa.

Overall, I have built my experience in consultancy, asset management and insurance across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. My role as Vice President of Key Account Development at Yellow Door Energy puts me at the forefront for driving results, growth, and development of the business across a defined set of Strategic Key Accounts whilst managing a team of Key Account Professionals.

In terms of my educational background, I hold a Master of Engineering (MEng) in Mechanical Engineering from University College London (UCL) in the UK.

Solar is an ever-evolving technology and business environment. Where do you see Yellow Door Energy going in the coming years, how do you see this business transform?

Yellow Door Energy’s vision is to power businesses in emerging economies in a way that is reliable, efficient and sustainable.

In our company’s early days, this means using solar photovoltaic (PV) as our main product. Today, we have expanded our product offerings to include battery energy storage as part of a hybrid solution, electric vehicle charging system and more.

Innovation is integral to our business, and we’re constantly monitoring the industry for the latest products and assessing whether they should be a part of our power purchase agreement.

Ultimately, our aim is to deploy $1 billion worth of sustainable energy projects in the Middle East, Africa and beyond. To achieve this, we envision our company embracing new technological applications, expanding to new markets and continuing to strengthen our leading position in existing markets.

In the light of your most recent milestone in achieving a 200MW solar project in the region, tell us a little bit about Yellow Door Energy’s support to companies in their journey towards going net zero.

Net Zero is a term that’s thrown around a lot these days. For us, Net Zero means Net Zero Emissions, where there is an equilibrium between the emissions produced and the emissions taken out of the atmosphere.

Large multi-national corporations have to step up their game with regards to setting clear targets and defining their pathway towards Net Zero. This may seem challenging at first, but we see that businesses, including some of our customers, are tackling the challenge head on.

Amongst our multi-national customers, we can see that Nestlé, Unilever, Mondelēz, and Daikin are leading in the path towards Net Zero. Regional companies such as Majid Al Futtaim and United Foods are also actively doing their part to lower carbon emissions.

These leading businesses partner with Yellow Door Energy through a solar lease, or solar power purchase agreement. This is a zero capex option to switch to clean energy, reduce energy costs and become more sustainable.

Their Net Zero ambitions are aligned with the UAE Energy Strategy 2050, making them exceptional advocates for COP28.

Other countries in the region have also set Net Zero target, amongst them KSA, Bahrain and Oman. Jordan has its Economic Modernization Vision and Turkey also has its Net Zero by 2053 commitment. This is top of mind for many countries and companies alike, and the sustainable energy transition is taking place at a rapid pace.

Any future developments or ongoing projects for Yellow Door Energy that you could share with us? (You can also address customized solutions, specific needs of the region and business models)

My goal here at Yellow Door Energy is simple: Helping businesses decarbonize their operations. This is not just for financial reasons but for altruistic reasons as well.

A recent BBC report stated that there is a 66% chance our global temperature will pass the 1.5C threshold by or before 2027. This means we all have to act together to reduce our emissions, so that we continue to have a comfortable home on this planet.

ABOUT YELLOW DOOR ENERGY

Yellow Door Energy is the leading sustainable energy partner for businesses, serving commercial and industrial customers in the Middle East, Africa and beyond. The company’s solar and energy efficiency solutions enable businesses to reduce energy costs, improve power reliability and lower carbon emissions. These solutions directly contribute to companies’ and countries’ Net Zero targets. Yellow Door Energy’s shareholders are Actis, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Mitsui & Co., Ltd., and APICORP.
www.yellowdoorenergy.com