Origins: From “X LAB” To CESI

In 2026, CESI celebrates its first 70 years of journey — a good moment to go back to its origins and retrace the key milestones that have shaped its journey.

CESI’s story begins to take shape in the early 1950s, with the creation of an experimental center known as “X Lab”. Here, engineers and technicians started working on large-scale studies and tests on power systems, tackling concrete challenges that were pioneering at the time. A true advanced research lab, where phenomena such as short-circuit currents, the behavior of electrical grids, and load flows were studied — topics that would go on to play a key role in the development of Italy’s power system.

In 1956, that experience took on a clear identity and a name: the Centro Elettrotecnico Sperimentale Italiano — CESI — was established, with the goal of putting this body of knowledge at the service of the national power system.

From there, a journey began that, rooted in experimentation, would see CESI accompany the evolution of energy in Italy and around the world.

In the coming weeks, we’ll keep exploring the story of CESI: follow us to discover what’s next.