Elenia Institute Turns 100: A Century of High-Voltage Innovation
The elenia Institute for High Voltage Technology and Energy Systems is set to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2025. Founded in the 1920s, the institute has played a significant role in the development of high-voltage technology and energy systems over the past century.
Initially, the institute focused on insulation testing, switching and rectifier device development, and high-voltage direct current transmission. Its research has evolved over time, with post-war efforts shifting towards plastic insulation, switchgear technology, and electromagnetic compatibility. The institute has consistently collaborated with industry and federal institutions throughout its history.
A pivotal figure in the institute's founding and growth was Erwin Marx, who invented the Marx generator. This invention laid the foundation for future developments in high-voltage direct current transmission (HVDC). Under Marx's leadership, the institute attracted international attention and became a center for high voltage technology. However, during the Third Reich, Marx's research was also central to the Nazi regime's autarky and rearmament plans, and he headed 55 electrical engineering institutes in the Reich Research Council.
In recent decades, the institute's research has focused on the challenges of the energy transition. This includes grid expansion, electric mobility, and decentralized energy systems. It has also explored the integration of renewable energies and electric vehicle charging behavior. The institute's new building, constructed in 1929, allowed for large-scale tests under realistic conditions, making Brunswick a leading location for electrical engineering.
As the elenia Institute approaches its centennial, it reflects on a rich history of innovation and adaptation. From its early work on insulation testing to its current focus on the energy transition, the institute has consistently pushed the boundaries of high-voltage technology and energy systems. In 2025, Professor Christian Kehrt will lead a celebration of the institute's scientific history at the 'Festkolloquium elenia 100'.
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