High voltage engineering and technology deal mainly with electric insulation and processes that take place in electric power systems at operating voltages and overvoltages. This field includes studies and modeling of electric, magnetic and thermal material properties, material ageing, discharges and breakdown in gases, liquids, solids and complicated insulating systems (multi-phase systems). Additional area of interest is modern high voltage measuring techniques together with testing and diagnostics of different components and apparatuses.

The group of high voltage engineering, as a part of the Department of Materials and Manufacturing Technology, is an important partner in networking for development of future electricity transmission and distribution network and related education efforts.Research activities of the group concentrate today on applications of different processes and materials in electro-technical industry, where three main flag specialties dominate: (i) applications of polymeric materials for insulation of high voltage apparatuses, especially for DC and high frequency stressed systems, (ii) simulations of electro-physical phenomena in dielectrics and (iii) development of diagnostic measuring technologies for assessment of insulation state for prediction of life time. The research activities are carried out in a strong and multidisciplinary environment, including cooperation with other academic groups and industrial partners within Sweden and internationally. These include internal co-operations at Chalmers (Electric Power Engineering, Polymer Technology, Applied Physics) and externally with Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm (Fiber & Polymer Technology), Uppsala University (Ångström laboratory) and ABB Corporate Research Centra. Recognition of the group on the international arena is very high and results of its research work are disseminated worldwide. Researchers of the group are involved in the work of IEEE and CIGRE and cooperate within internationally financed projects, as for example Tekes in Finland and EU’s Rediatool.

The group members participate in graduate and postgraduate education through conducting courses and project works within the Master’s Programme in Electric Power Engineering (EPMAS) and the Graduate School in High Voltage Engineering, the latter being a joint initiative between Chalmers, Uppsala University and Royal Institute of Technology.