20 years of accreditation as a high-voltage laboratory at the UDE
20 years under high tension
- von Astrid Bergmeister
- 14.07.2026
Based in Duisburg, a national leader, in demand internationally – and making a significant contribution to the energy transition: the UDE’s high-voltage laboratory is one of the few accredited university facilities worldwide capable of testing long extra-high-voltage cables under realistic conditions.
Over the past 20 years, the laboratory has supported a large number of companies in the successful qualification and further development of their products through high-voltage testing. The aim of these tests was to identify weaknesses in the insulation, such as those caused by minute contaminants – for example, a speck of dust during assembly – or simply material defects. These faults lead to discharges that can destroy insulation systems, sometimes over a period of several years; however, they can also lead directly to insulation breakdown.
If insulation fails in equipment used in high- or extra-high-voltage networks, this could, in extreme cases, trigger a widespread blackout across Europe. Energy network operators therefore focus on ensuring that the components used can withstand even unusual situations with a high margin of safety. In this context, scientific laboratories that can provide highly reliable test results are of essential importance. Accreditation ensures that the results are free from any bias and are verifiably traceable to the applicable standards at all times.
This is also highly relevant to the energy transition, explains Head of Department Prof. Dr Holger Hirsch on 10 July 2026, marking the 20th anniversary of the accreditation of the high-voltage laboratory at the UDE: “With the high-voltage laboratory, we are making a small contribution to the energy transition by assessing high-voltage components for their suitability for use in the grid. The aim is to create equipment that is equipped to meet the future challenges of the energy transition.”
Commenting on the current state of energy transmission and developments in energy technology, Dr Markus Franke, Head of HVDC System Design – System Architecture at Amprion GmbH, added during his presentation: “The energy transition is not decided solely by wind farms, solar parks or political debates, but in substations, high-voltage transmission lines and indeed here in test laboratories.” He continued: “To operate our grid safely and reliably, assumptions alone are not enough. Through testing, we must ensure that all components and systems we install in the grid function just as safely and reliably.”
The event featured the latest research findings from high-voltage technology and studies on electromagnetic compatibility, as well as laboratory tours and exciting demonstrations.
A photo gallery celebrating the 20th anniversary of the UDE High-Voltage Laboratory’s accreditation can be found at:
https://www.uni-due.de/aktuell/2026-07-10-bilderstrecke-20-jahre-hochspannungslabor.php