KEMA

KEMA
Name	KEMA
Type	Private company
Industry	Energy consulting and testing
Founded	1927
Headquarters	Arnhem, Netherlands
Area served	Global
Key people	(varies over time)
Services	Testing, certification, consulting, laboratory services, training

KEMA KEMA was an internationalNetherlands-origin energy consulting, testing, and certification firm founded in 1927. It provided laboratory testing, certification, advisory services, and research for electrical utilities, manufacturers, and grid operators, working with major industrial actors and international institutions across Europe, North America, Asia, and Africa. Over decades the firm engaged with corporations, standards bodies, and regulators, contributing to grid reliability, equipment qualification, and renewable integration projects.

History

KEMA originated as a testing and research institute in Arnhem, established to support electrification efforts and collaborate with European utilities like Royal Dutch Shell-era companies and municipal power providers. During the mid-20th century it expanded services to high-voltage testing, partnering with major manufacturers such as General Electric, Siemens, and ABB while engaging with national utilities including Électricité de France and TenneT. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries KEMA broadened into consultancy and certification amid liberalization of European electricity markets and the rise of renewable energy, interfacing with institutions such as European Commission directorates and International Energy Agency. Subsequent corporate transactions involved acquisitions and divestitures with corporations like DNV and private equity firms, reshaping its ownership and embedding it within global testing networks.

Organization and Structure

KEMA operated through regional business units and specialized laboratories, reporting through corporate management aligned with service lines: testing laboratories, certification bodies, consulting and advisory, and training centers. Governance typically involved boards with representation from industry stakeholders and executive management who coordinated with standards organizations like International Electrotechnical Commission, CENELEC, and accreditation bodies such as DAkkS or national accreditation agencies. Technical staff included engineers with expertise in high-voltage engineering, power systems protection, asset management, and commissioning, collaborating with universities and research institutes including Delft University of Technology and ETH Zurich on applied research and student training.

Services and Activities

KEMA provided high-voltage testing for equipment such as transformers, switchgear, and circuit breakers used by manufacturers including Schneider Electric and Hitachi Energy; certification against standards from IEC and IEEE; energy consulting for utilities such as Enel and E.ON on grid integration and reliability; and laboratory services for dielectric, thermal, and mechanical testing. It offered software and system studies for grid operators including National Grid and RTE covering stability, protection coordination, and fault analysis, and supported renewable developers like Ørsted and Vestas on grid connection studies. The firm also ran training courses and proficiency testing for engineers and technicians collaborating with professional societies such as IEEE PES and CIGRÉ.

Notable Projects and Testing Facilities

KEMA operated distinctive high-voltage laboratories and testing platforms, including large AC and DC test fields capable of full-scale lightning impulse and power frequency testing for extra-high-voltage equipment used by companies like Mitsubishi Electric and Toshiba. It conducted on-site commissioning and type-testing projects for interconnectors and HVDC links similar to those built by Siemens Energy and ABB between transmission system operators such as TenneT and Elia. KEMA’s facilities supported validation of insulating materials, cable systems for subsea links akin to projects by Alstom and NEXANS, and performance testing for emerging technologies like battery storage systems deployed by firms such as Tesla and Samsung SDI. Collaborative research projects involved consortia with entities like European Investment Bank-backed initiatives and multinational utilities.

Global Presence and Partnerships

The company established offices and labs across Europe, United States, China, and India, partnering with regional utilities, manufacturers, and certification bodies including Underwriters Laboratories and national testing institutes. Strategic partnerships included collaborations with engineering consultancies such as AECOM and Jacobs on large infrastructure programs, and alliances with grid operators and regional development banks on electrification and resilience projects. KEMA engaged in standardization and policy dialogues with European Commission services, participated in research programs funded by Horizon 2020-type instruments, and worked with professional networks like CIGRÉ and IEEE on technical committees.

Controversies and Criticism

KEMA faced scrutiny typical for testing and certification firms when ownership changes and commercial pressures raised questions about impartiality, particularly where testing revenue interacted with consultancy engagements for equipment manufacturers and utilities. Critics pointed to potential conflicts similar to those discussed in broader debates involving organizations like UL and TÜV about independence and accreditation oversight. Project-specific controversies included disputes over test results, contractual liability, and transparency in risk assessments for high-profile infrastructure projects involving governments or large utilities, prompting calls for stricter accreditation oversight by national bodies and increased disclosure by stakeholders such as regulators and financiers.

Category:Energy companies of the Netherlands Category:Testing laboratories