Centro Elettrotecnico Sperimentale Italiano

CESI - Centro Elettrotecnico Sperimentale Italiano Giacinto Motta is a world-leading technical consulting and engineering company in the field of technology and innovation for the electric power sector. Through its Division KEMA Labs, CESI is the world leader for the independent Testing, Inspection and Certification activities in the electricity industry. With a legacy of more than 60 years of experience, CESI operates in 70 countries around the world and supports its global clients in meeting the energy transition challenges.

CESI SpA
Joint stock company
Founded1956
FounderErcole Bottani
HeadquartersMilan, Italy
Key people
Salvatore Machì (Chairman), Matteo Codazzi (CEO)
Revenue€139 million (2019)
Number of employees
2.000 ca (2019)
Websitewww.cesi.it
CESI Aerial view Milan Headquarters

The company’s key global clients include major utilities, Transmission System Operators (TSOs), Distribution System Operators (DSOs), power generation companies (GenCos), system integrators, financial investors and global electromechanical and electronic manufacturers, as well as governments and regulatory authorities. In addition, CESI works in close cooperation with international financial institutions such as, among others, the World Bank Group, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Investment Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank.

Major consulting services include: Power Systems studies and Power Market studies, Master Planning and Operational Planning, design and Owner’s Engineering for HVAC/HVDC Interconnections, Real Time Operations supervision and control, Asset Management, Integration of Renewable Energies and Storage Systems, design and Owner’s Engineering of Smart Grids and Smart Metering deployments, Technological and Environmental Audits, Control and Regulation Systems for Power Plants, Engineering services for Testing Laboratories, Environmental Impact Assessments, Civil Engineering Services for hydro and renewable plants and Environmental Monitoring Systems for Electric Power Plants.  

CESI also develops and manufactures advanced solar cells, III-V triple junction GaAS for space and terrestrial application (CPV).

CESI is a fully independent joint-stock company headquartered in Milan and with facilities in Arnhem, Berlin, Mannheim, Prague, Dubai, Knoxville (USA), Chalfont (USA), Rio de Janeiro and Santiago de Chile.

History

CESI was founded in 1956, and has more than 60 years of experience in testing and consulting services for the electrical industry.

The strong necessity of doing experimental tests and network studies persuaded the big electromechanical industries (Pirelli, SAE, Ercole Marelli, Ansaldo), together with the majority of electrical industries (Edison, SADE, Montecatini, Falck), of the need of a “Great Power laboratory”. In the early 50s, the “X Laboratory” was born. At the end of the 50s, CESI is developed a leadership in the determination of short-circuit powers inside the transmission lines and in load flows’ problems. In the 1958, its international aim is attested thanks to an important commission: the study of the system El Chocón Dam – Buenos Aires for the construction of two hydroelectric plants.

The problems of the unification of electrical frequencies and of the interconnection networks, enabling energy interchange between an “island” and another and consequently achieve Italian electrical system unity, lead to the establishment in 1962 of ENEL.[1] In the 1964, ENEL decided to use CESI’s laboratories to make targeted studies for its operative activity. The company purchased the majority of the capital of CESI. 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 Project”,[2] which was realized for the transport of energy and high voltage on the Italian electrical networks. The “1000 kV’s Project” was a key step in the history of electrical industry’s research, not only in Italy but also in the world.

In 1988, CESI signed a convention with IMQ which bring to fruition the CSQ (Certified Quality Systems).[3] At December 1989, ENEL charged CESI with a research project to be finished in three years: the Energy storage for a stationary and vehicular use. The topic was the application of the electrical battery not only on traditional power plants but especially on non traditional ones, like photovoltaic and wind power. The project faced off the development and industrialization of pioneering batteries and, at the same time, wanted to realized prototypes of electric vehicles with a highest degree of innovation.

FGH facility in Mannheim

In 2002, CESI acquired the Piacenza’s laboratory from ENEL Produzione, which has integrated and extended the offer of monitoring systems for thermoelectric plants during the operation and maintenance. In addition, the company got the hydraulic and structural pole from ENEL; ENEL Hydro S.p.A. which delivers services for hydroelectric power plants. ISMES was purchased in 2004 and, thanks to the deal, CESI increased its competences in land conservation, natural hazards and qualification of civil structures and industrial plants, preservation of monuments and monitoring services. 2005 saw CESI's expertise in laboratory testing being extended through the acquisition of IPH GmbH (located in Berlin) and FGH Engineering & Test GmbH (located in Mannheim) from Vattenfall Europe. Both companies are working in the field of testing of high -, medium - and low voltage electrical components. CESI Ricerca created in 2005 with ENEA, and it has been transferred into GSE (Electrical Services Manager) in 2009.

With a view to cater closely to international client needs, CESI established two new companies: CESI Middle East was set up in 2011 in Dubai and CESI do Brasil in March 2012.[4] On February 2012, CESI Middle East has been contracted by the Kuwait-based Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development to come up with a plan for integrating the loosely connected electricity and natural gas networks of 20 Arab countries.[5] CESI is a founding member of RES4MED,[6] an association that aims to increase renewable energy sources penetration and to analyse the conditions for integrated electricity markets in the Mediterranean area.

On 30 December 2019, CESI has acquired the property of KEMA B.V. from DNV GL. The acquisition includes all the high voltage testing, inspection and certification activities carried out at the KEMA owned laboratories in Arnhem (The Netherlands) and Prague (Czech Republic). The transaction was completed on March 2, 2020 with the acquisition of the Chalfont laboratory (USA). The 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

Organizational structure

The company has three business divisions:

  • Testing & Certification: performs laboratory testing activities on power electronics, electromechanical and electronic components; it certifies electrical components, both high and low voltage; it produces solar cells for space and terrestrial applications (with Concentrated photovoltaics technology) and as a member of international CPV consortium, aims to increase solar energy production through innovative technologies;[7]
  • Consulting Solutions & Services: offers engineering and technical consulting services related to major electrical infrastructures,[8] drawing up energy master plans, designing transmission and distribution networks, interconnection studies (such as LitPol Link), automation of electricity transmission and distribution stations and consultancy and owner’s engineering services related to Smart Grid.
  • Engineering & Environment: operates in the field of consultancy, studies, civil and environmental design of industrial plant throughout their entire life cycle.

Accreditation

CESI proves its competence as an independent testing service provider also by its accreditation certificates:

  • As Testing laboratories by Accredia;[9]
  • As Certification and Inspection Body;[10]
  • Within the frame of ISO/IEC 17025, CESI is also a founder member of STL (Short-Circuit Testing Liaison).[11]

Main shareholders

Shareholders as of 5 March 2019:[12]

  • Terna - 42.698%
  • Enel - 42.698%
  • Prysmian - 6.479%
  • ABB - 5.675%
  • CESI (own shares) - 2.000%
  • Toshiba Transmission & Distribution SpA - 0.357%
  • Sediver - 0.094%
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References
  1. "Enel foundation". Archived from the original on 2012-09-15. Retrieved 2012-08-06.
  2. "The 1000 kV Project".
  3. "CSQ Brand".
  4. "CESI's History". Archived from the original on 2012-01-20. Retrieved 2012-08-02.
  5. "AFESD unified Energy Market".
  6. "Founding member of RES4MED". Archived from the original on 2012-07-24. Retrieved 2012-08-06.
  7. "CPV Consortium".
  8. "European Energy Infrastructure and CESI report".
  9. "Testing Lab".
  10. "Certification and Inspection Body".
  11. "STL-Members".
  12. "brothersgroup".
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