CESI History

In 1962 Italy’s electricity sector was nationalized under the umbrella of ENEL, the national electricity utility. In 1964, ENEL decided to use CESI's laboratories to carry out targeted studies for its operations. The company took a majority shareholding in CESI, ushering in a new era for CESI and a determination to make it one of the leaders in its sector. This was like a second foundation for CESI, with the willingness to maintain it at the top technical level in the sector. 1967 saw the construction of the first facility to control the spread of fires dues to the combustion of electric cables, and of the testing laboratory for electrical equipments, explosion-proof, which have to be fixed in areas with danger of fire or explosions.

CESI, under the boost of the increase in electricity consumption, built new laboratories, also for high voltage cable tests. This gave birth to the "1000 kV's Poject", which was realized for the transport of energy and high voltage on the Italian electrical networks. Thanks to this project, CESI would be the main actor on the development of all testing equipments. The "1000 kV's Poject" was a key step in the history of electrical industry's research, not only in Italy but also in the world.

In 1987, CESI realized the Electromagnetic compatibility Laboratory (also known as anechoic room) for the study of the electromagnetic capability's degree of electronic equipments. In the same year, it was one of the promoters of ALPI (Association of testing laboratories and agencies). In 1988, CESI signed a convention with IMQ which bring to fruition the CSQ (Certified Quality Systems).

In 1989, ENEL charged CESI with researching options for storing electricity for use in the energy network and in vehicles. Researchers sought to discover whether batteries could store power from alternative electricity generation facilities such as solar PV and wind power. The project focused not just on developing and bringing to commercialization new types of batteries but also created prototype electric vehicles.

In 2002, CESI acquired the Piacenza's laboratory from ENEL Produzione, which has integrated and uprated the offer of monitoring systems for thermoelectric plants during the operation, and of maintenance. In addition, the company got the hydraulic and structural pole from Enel.Hydro which was offering appropriate services for hydroelectric plants.

2005 saw CESI qualification in laboratory tests extended because of the acquisition from Vattenfall Europe of IPH (in Berlin) and FGH Engineering & Test GmbH (in Mannheim), two companies that are working in the field of high, medium and low voltage electrical components.

The purchase of ISMES gave CESI expertise in land conservation, preservation of monuments, equipment diagnostics and the qualification structure of the industrial product, monitoring services and industrial product testing.

From Vattenfall Europe, CESI acquired IPH (in Berlin) and FGH Engineering & Test GmbH (in Mannheim), two companies with expertise in testing high, medium and low voltage electrical components.

CESI do Brazil and CESI Middle East were established.

CESI acquires the US company EnerNex, a leading U.S. electric power engineering and consulting firm, based in Knoxville (Tennessee) which provides research, engineering and consulting services to the electric power industry.

CESI acquires KEMA laboratories from DNV GL. The acquired KEMA testing and inspections facilities include the world’s largest high-power laboratory, with the highest short circuit power of 10,000 MVA, and the world’s first laboratory capable of testing ultra-high voltage components for super grids, as well as the Flex Power Grid Laboratory, for advanced testing of smart grids components. The acquisition of KEMA Laboratories makes CESI the world’s leading provider of independent testing of power components.