Nicola Melchiotti, CEO of CESI: Technology and Innovation at the Core of the Energy Revolution

The global energy sector is undergoing an unprecedented transformation, driven by technological progress and the accelerating transition toward sustainability. Renewable generation, digitalization, and the standardization of components are reshaping how electricity is produced, distributed, and consumed worldwide.

In a recent interview with Italian Tech Week – Repubblica, the most viewed all-news website in Italy, Nicola Melchiotti, CEO of CESI, highlighted the central role of technology in this revolution:
“As in every revolution, technology is fundamental — it sits at the very heart of change,” said Melchiotti. “Renewables have already restructured the global energy landscape, from solar panels on our rooftops to vast plants in deserts and offshore areas. Digitalization has brought intelligence to our grids, while standardization has turned electricity from a local system into a global value chain.”

Melchiotti also emphasized two emerging technologies that will shape the next phase of the energy transition: energy storage — both at small and large scale — which will transform the architecture of the power system, and High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission, which enables interconnection between entire continents and fosters a more resilient, integrated energy world.

While CESI does not manufacture technologies, it plays a pivotal role in testing, validating, and anticipating them. “Technologies from across the globe arrive in our laboratories,” Melchiotti explained. “This allows us to understand how they work, foresee what’s coming next, and support investors and developers worldwide in building the energy systems of the future.”

Pushing the boundaries of innovation has even taken CESI into space. With its new production line for solar cells for space applications, more than 100 satellites currently orbiting Earth powered by CESI-made photovoltaic cells.

From terrestrial grids to orbital missions, CESI stands at the frontier of technological innovation, helping shape the future of energy — on Earth and beyond.

Watch the interview here.