KEMA-CESI

KEMA Labs, a business unit of the CESI Group and often referred to as KEMA‑CESI, operates as a global provider of independent testing, inspection, and certification services for the electricity sector. Originating from KEMA, founded in 1927 by Dutch power utilities, it has evolved from an Arnhem‑based test house into a network of high‑power and high‑voltage laboratories serving utilities, TSOs, DSOs, OEMs and other manufacturers worldwide. Following earlier ownership by DNV GL, CESI acquired KEMA’s high‑voltage and high‑power laboratory activities in Arnhem (Netherlands), Prague (Czech Republic) and Chalfont (USA) at the end of 2019, integrating them into its broader testing and engineering group alongside facilities in Milan, Berlin and Mannheim. KEMA‑CESI’s capabilities span testing of grid equipment from low to ultra‑high‑voltage, including switchgear, transformers, cables and accessories, power electronics, surge arresters, measuring relays, protection and substation automation equipment, smart meters, e‑mobility charging systems and battery storage components. Its infrastructure includes the world’s largest high‑power laboratory with short‑circuit power of 10,000 MVA, ultra‑high‑voltage test capability for supergrid components, HVDC cable testing, a Flex Power Grid Laboratory for advanced smart‑grid component testing, structural and seismic test facilities, electromagnetic compatibility laboratories, climatic and pollution chambers, calibration services and on‑site testing. KEMA‑CESI issues KEMA certificates and performs ATEX and IECEx conformity assessments, as well as IEC 61850 protocol and functional testing for intelligent electronic devices. Embedded within CESI’s wider consulting and engineering activities, the division supports grid modernization, integration of renewables, SCADA and control‑center projects, and the broader energy transition while CESI as a group aligns its operations with the UN Global Compact and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.