Green Energy at All TDK Electronics Sites

From geothermal Iceland to solar-powered India – TDK Electronics has reached its 2025 milestone: every single production site worldwide now runs on 100% renewable electricity. The next step is for all sites to become CO₂-neutral by 2030, which means no longer using fossil fuels either.

With this achievement, the company has not only delivered on its self-set target but also underscored its role as a driver of sustainable transformation in the electronics industry.

“By switching to renewable energies, we are making an important contribution to a sustainable future. I am very pleased that, in line with our ambitious climate protection goals, we have now decarbonized our electricity purchases in all TDK Electronics plants,” says Dr. Werner Lohwasser, CEO & COO of TDK Electronics.

The chart illustrates the company’s steady reduction of Scope 1 and 2 emissions since FY2014. The switch to 100% renewable electricity in FY2025 eliminated almost all Scope 2 emissions. The remaining fossil and process-related emissions will be reduced step by step to reach CO₂-neutral production by 2030.

A Global Milestone in Sustainability 

As of October 1, 2025, all TDK Electronics sites across Europe, Asia, and the Americas are powered exclusively by electricity from renewable sources. This marks a decisive step in the company’s climate strategy: eliminating CO₂ emissions from purchased electricity (Scope 2) well ahead of industry standards.

The journey toward 100% renewables reflects the diversity of TDK Electronics’ global footprint. Different regions leveraged their natural advantages and local conditions – from geothermal and hydropower in Iceland to massive solar investments in India and China and heat pump conversions in Central Europe. Together with the usage of green electricity, these efforts form a mosaic of sustainable energy solutions spanning the globe, helping to reduce our carbon footprint and avoid about 170,000 tons of CO₂ per year.
 

Asia – Scaling Up Solar and Renewables

Asia, home to many of TDK Electronics’ largest production sites, was the final piece in the 100% renewable puzzle. In recent years, the company has expanded renewable energy in this region – especially through on-site solar power and innovative green initiatives – to close the gap and bring every Asian facility onto clean electricity. This has involved major solar photovoltaic installations in India and China, and tapping into available green grids where possible.

India: The Nashik plant draws power from two 7 MWp external solar farms plus a large rooftop system, covering 75% of its demand. At Kalyani, a 1 MWp rooftop array generates ~1,400 MWh/year.

Southeast Asia: The Johor Bahru site (Malaysia) produces 640 MWh/year with a 500 kWp PV system at their roof. The site in Batam (Indonesia) was also installing its first PV system. 

China: Hongqi and Zhuhai FTZ have both added PV systems at their sites at their premises in fiscal year T129. In 2023, Xiamen added a 400 kWp PV at their location and has installed additionally EV charging points. 

Overall, the expansion of solar power in Asia has been remarkable. Many sites – including those mentioned above – now either generate green electricity on-site or source it from dedicated off-site facilities. The cumulative impact is significant: the total solar energy output at (and for) TDK Electronics locations worldwide has climbed to about 24,700 MWh in the past year, and further expansions are underway. In fact, the company plans to increase its own annual solar generation to roughly 44,000 MWh in the year ahead through new projects and system upgrades. This continual scaling-up of renewables in Asia and beyond not only helps TDK Electronics maintain its 100% green electricity status, but also builds in a buffer of locally produced clean power that enhances energy security and demonstrates visible commitment to sustainability in the communities where TDK operates.

Solar panels covering rooftops at the TDK Electronics site in Zhuhai FTZ, China. The 2 MWp PV installation generates more than 2,000 MWh of clean electricity per year. 

Rooftop solar power at the TDK Electronics site in Nashik, India. Together with two external solar farms, the installation now covers around 75% of the plant’s electricity demand.

Europe – Driving Carbon Free Production

Europe has been at the forefront of TDK Electronics’ renewable energy transition. Most European manufacturing sites (as well as those in the Americas) have been operating with 100% carbon-free purchased electricity since early in the journey. Many European countries offer mature renewable energy markets, enabling TDK to buy certified green power (such as hydroelectric, wind, or solar energy) to run its factories. Additionally, several European facilities have invested in on-site renewable energy generation to further enhance their sustainability and efficiency. These projects not only cut emissions but often reduce operating costs in the long run.

• Austria (Deutschlandsberg): A PV system on the warehouse roof provides about 500 MWh renewable power per year.
• Czech Republic (Šumperk): The site in Šumperk was a pioneer when it comes to PV power; they installed the first PV system in TDK Electronics in 2013 and extended it in 2023. Today, they self-generate about 1.9 GWh solar power per year.
• Hungary (Szombathely): One of the largest roof top solar arrays in TDK Electronics (6 MWp) is installed at our Hungarian site. In combination with a heat pump system, the site is now almost entirely independent from natural gas and CO₂ emissions have been reduced significantly.
• Spain (Málaga): Expanded PV on rooftops and parking canopies increases self-generated solar share.
• Germany (Heidenheim): 100% renewable supply with plans to fully replace gas heating by 2030.
• Croatia (Kutina): A 1 MWp PV system covers ~9% of the electricity demand.
• Iceland (Akureyri): Runs entirely on geothermal and hydropower. Excess process heat (~80 GWh/year) is fed into the city’s district heating grid, covering approximately 14% of local needs – equivalent to approximately 2,500 households being warmed sustainably.

Aerial view of the TDK Electronics site in Szombathely, Hungary, where extensive photovoltaic installations on the rooftops provide green electricity and heat pumps have replaced natural gas.

Bird’s-eye view of the TDK Electronics site in Šumperk, Czech Republic. PV arrays on the roof generate about 1.9 GWh of electricity annually. 

Through these efforts, our European sites not only met but exceeded their renewable electricity goals early. By eliminating all fossil-based electricity, TDK Electronics’ European operations have significantly reduced their carbon footprint. Moreover, the combination of purchased green energy and self-generation offers a model for how industrial operations can operate cleanly. The European experience also illustrates the synergy between ecological benefit and economic sense – as Dr. Klaus Moertl, the company’s Environmental Protection Officer, noted, investments in photovoltaics and energy efficiency “make a lot of sense ecologically, but also economically, especially in view of rising fossil fuel prices”. In summary, Europe’s lead in the transition has been vital in proving that a global, carbon-free operation is achievable.

Americas – Green Power in Brazil

In South America, the Gravataí plant in Brazil already operates on 100% renewable electricity, thanks to Brazil’s hydro-rich grid and dedicated green sourcing. Local biodiversity initiatives reinforce the site’s environmental contribution.

What Comes Next: From Electricity to Total CO₂ Neutrality

The next frontier for TDK Electronics is clear: CO₂ neutrality in our own production by 2030. This means phasing out fossil fuels entirely, not only in purchased electricity but also in on-site heating and processes. Heat pump projects, expanded solar capacity, and innovative energy efficiency measures are already paving the way.

And the long-term vision extends even further: contributing to TDK Group’s commitment to become climate-neutral across the entire value chain by 2050.