CERDA high-voltage testing lab, part of GE Vernova's certified testing facilities

CERDA Testing Laboratory

Certified and Independent

CERDA Testing Laboratory - Certified and Independent

Located in Villeurbanne, France, CERDA was established in 1929. CERDA and GE Vernova share the same site, allowing proximity and partnership for research and engineering of new equipment.

Quality and Confidentiality

To demonstrate its committment to quality, neutrality and impartiality, CERDA is recognized and accredited by a number of organizations, and tests according to a variety of standards.

  • COFRAC accredited (N°1-0260 and 1-6988) for testing equipment according to ISO/IEC 17025
  • ASEFA certified to provide a full certification with inspector
  • ESEF and STL national and international association memberships for full netrality and impartiality
  • Tests are performed according to IEC, IEEE, EN, VDE, GOST, FURNAS, GB, DL and other standards or customer specifications
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High Power Testing

The high power testing laboratory at CERDA provides the full short circuit test program according to international and regional standards, and is equipped with modern and reliable measurement tools.

Testing Portfolio

Basic Short-Circuit Test Duties :

  • Full pole : 800 kV / 63 kA / 50-60 Hz
  • Half pole : 1,200 kV / 63 kA / 50-60 Hz

Short Line Fault Tests Duties: 
Up to 63 kA

Capacitive Current Switching Tests:
550 kV / 63 kA / 50-60 Hz full pole

Out-Of-Phase Making & Breaking Tests:

  • Making : 300 kV full pole
  • Breaking : 550 kV full pole

Internal Arc Tests :
Up to 80 kA

DC Short-Circuit Tests :
Up to 40 kA, up to 200 kV full pole

Technical Capabilities

Generator Output: 
Up to 2 x 2,500 MVA + 3,000 MVA

Short-Circuit Current :
Up to 100 kA, single-phase

Maximum TRV for Synthetic Tests :
1,200 kV

Frequency:
50-60 Hz; 16 Hz 2-3

Testing Halls:
Three synthetic testing halls

high power testing

Medium Power Testing

The medium power station is equipped with two transformers with 23 MVA each, and it can reach up to 46 MVA in combination. This laboratory is able to perform tests from 10 V to 850 V and up to 4,000 A, when coupled with one regulator transformer.

Medium Power Testing Portfolio

Short Time Current Withstand:
Up to 80 kA rms for 3 seconds, 160 kA peak

Disconnector Busbar Transfer Current:
Up to 8,000 A

Earthing Switch:
Breaking and making of inductive currents

Capacitive and Inductive Tests of earthing switches

Technical Capabilities

Transformers:

  • 2 x 23 MVA - up to 2,000 V + 1300 MVA
  • Up to 260 kV

Regulator transformer:

  • 10 V to 850 V, up to 4,000 A
  • Power factor < 0.15

LV Test Range:
10 V to 850 V, up to 8,000 A, single-phase

HV Test Rang :
Up to 260 kV 

medium power testing

High Voltage Testing

The high voltage testing laboratory offers several possibilities for short and long term insulation testing, and is equipped with three power frequency transformers and one impulse generator bank. All tests can be performed also under rainy conditions for outdoor equipment. The laboratory provides the necessary tools to measure Radio Interference Voltages (RIV) as well as Partial Discharge (PD).

High Voltage Testing Portfolio

AC power frequency tests

  • Switching impulse tests
  • Lightning impulse tests

DC dielectric tests
Combined voltage tests (BIAS)

  • Chopped wave tests
  • PD and RIV Test
  • Dry and Wet Conditions
  • Bus Current Switching Tests
Technical Capabilities

Power frequency: Up to 1,2 MV 50 Hz

Lightning Impulse: Up to 2,5 MV

Switching Impulse: Up to 1,6 MV

DC Voltage: Up to 1 MV DC

Partial Discharge: Up to 750 kV

RIV testing: Up to 550 kV

high voltage testing

Temperature Rise Testing

This test laboratory can simulate the impact of the equipment on the environment e.g. the energy losses or radiation under nominal current applications. It is made of two independent, parallel testing rooms with its own current generator and allows to record up to 200 x PT1000 temperature sensors together. The ambient temperature can be controlled up to 40 °C.

Temperature Rise Testing Portfolio
  • Short term temperature rise tests
  • Long term temperature rise tests
  • Calculation of temperature rise values based on the resistance measurement of the current transformers
Technical Capabilities
  • Tests in AC – Single-Phase (50/60 Hz) - up to 50 kA
  • Tests in AC – Three-Phase (50/60 Hz) - up to 10 kA
  • Tests in DC - up to 4 kA
Temperature rise testing

Climatic & Mechanical Testing

The climatic chamber is equipped with one room, which can reproduce extreme environmental conditions and temperatures from -60 °C to +60 °C. Additionally the laboratory is equipped for leakage measurement by accumulation for gases such as SF6, CF4 or g3 – green gas for grid.

Climatic & Mechanical Testing Portfolio
  • Mechanical operations
  • Severe ice conditions
  • Tightness
Technical Capabilities
  • Temperature range: -60 °C to +60° C
  • Testing room dimensions: 11 x 6 x 6.8 m (D x W x H)
climatic and mechanical testing

Contact Us

CERDA is located in Villeurbanne, Lyon. Office hours are 8 am to 5 pm weekdays. 

Availability for our next test slots starting from Q2 2027

CERDA Testing Laboratory

21, rue Cyprian
69 100 Villeurbanne, France

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