SHERIDAN, WYOMING -- June 15, 2026 -- KHS Group has commissioned a 750.2 kWp photovoltaic system at its production site in Ahmedabad, India, generating 1,100 MWh of green electricity per year and covering approximately 80% of the facility's energy requirement. The plant went into operation in early March 2026 following a three-month installation phase and is projected to save up to 1,000 metric tons of indirect carbon emissions annually. The investment advances KHS's group-wide target of reducing scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 36% by 2028.
Bifacial Solar Technology Maximises Output on Ahmedabad Rooftops
KHS installed bifacial solar cells across the rooftops of two production shops at the Ahmedabad site. The technology generates electricity from both front and rear surfaces — the front side captures direct sunlight while the rear side harvests reflected light from the substructure beneath. That dual-capture approach increases electricity yield beyond what conventional single-sided panels would produce on the same footprint.
Ahmedabad's climate makes it a strong location for solar deployment. The region receives up to 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, a resource level that underpins both the current installation's performance and the planned expansion.
Grid Dependency Falls to 20%, with Full Autonomy Targeted by 2028
Before the photovoltaic system came online, the Ahmedabad factory drew a substantially larger share of its energy from the national grid. The new installation reduces that external dependency to around 20%. KHS has already prepared the infrastructure for a further expansion, with plans to scale the system to 1,051 MWp by 2028 — a threshold the company says would make the site fully autonomous in its energy supply.
Biresh Banerjee, who leads Facility Management, Safety, Health, Environment and Energy at KHS Machinery Pvt. Ltd. in Ahmedabad, described the milestone: "The installation of this new photovoltaic system once again underlines our commitment to sustainable growth and environmental protection. It shows that KHS in India is taking on a pioneering role."
Ahmedabad Site Serves India and Southeast Asia from 115,000 Square Metres
KHS has operated in India since 1989 and established KHS Machinery Private Limited as a German-Indian joint venture in 1997. The current Ahmedabad factory, in operation since 2005, covers 115,000 square metres and employs approximately 650 people. From this base, KHS supplies beverage bottlers across India and Southeast Asia with filling equipment and packaging technology. The company holds a 35% market share in the region.
Dr. Julia Niehaus, who heads Sustainability Management and Strategic Projects at KHS, placed the investment in commercial context: "India is an important growth market for the KHS Group with an increasing demand for carbonated beverages and hygienically packaged products. These investments demonstrate that technological market leadership and sustainable action go hand in hand at KHS."
Ahmedabad Adds to a Growing KHS Renewable Energy Footprint
The Ahmedabad commissioning follows a 1,000 MWh-per-year solar plant that KHS brought online at its factory in Kunshan, China, at the end of 2025. Prior to that, the company deployed photovoltaic systems at its German facilities in Dortmund, Bad Kreuznach, and Worms in collaboration with the MaGeno-Solar employees' cooperative. The Ahmedabad installation extends that renewable energy programme to KHS's Indian operations, reflecting the group's stated position that decarbonisation measures must reach all production facilities globally.
KHS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Salzgitter AG and reported turnover of approximately €1.649 billion in 2025 across its 5,769 employees.
Water Management and ISO Certifications Reinforce Environmental Governance
Beyond energy, the Ahmedabad site operates a closed-loop process water system that retreats and reuses water for cooling and landscape management. Water is sourced from the company's own well, with consumption monitored daily through digital measurement systems. Rainwater is collected systematically on site. The facility holds both ISO 14001 environmental and ISO 50001 energy management certifications — a framework KHS describes as holistic environmental management that has informed its resource efficiency improvements over many years.
For more information on KHS's sustainability programme and press releases, visit KHS.