CESI marks 70 years of energy innovation with "Powering What's Next" event

Italian multinational CESI celebrated its 70th anniversary with a high-profile gathering of industry leaders and institutions at its Milan headquarters, reflecting on seven decades of contribution to the global energy sector and the challenges ahead.

Founded in 1956 as an applied research centre supporting Italy's post-war electrification, CESI has grown into an international group operating in over 70 countries, with expertise spanning engineering and strategic consultancy, advanced testing of electrical components and infrastructure, and the production of high-efficiency solar cells for space applications through its CESI Space division. Through its KEMA Labs division, the group is also the independent global leader in Testing, Inspection and Certification for the electrical industry.

The event, held at the company's Via Rubattino 54 premises in Milan, brought together Italy's Environment and Energy Security Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin alongside Flavio Cattaneo (Enel), Giuseppina Di Foggia (Terna), Massimo Battaini (Prysmian), Nicola Monti (Edison) and Renato Mazzoncini (A2A). Discussions centred on the key themes reshaping the energy landscape: decarbonisation, supply security, grid infrastructure development and technological innovation against a backdrop of rapid geopolitical change.

"Seventy years ago we were born to support Italy's industrial growth. Today we bring that same expertise to the global energy transition," said CEO Nicola Melchiotti. "Grid security, decarbonisation, electrification and infrastructure resilience are the defining challenges of our time. At CESI, we work on these issues as an independent and authoritative partner for governments, operators and investors."