A history of more than 140 years
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Thomas Alva Edison
Thomas Alva Edison presented his dynamo at the International Electricity Exhibition in Paris in 1881. Giuseppe Colombo met the American scientist on this occasion, and immediately recognised the great potential of electricity. He dreamt of bringing this innovation to Italy. In the autumn of the same year, he founded the 'Comitato promotore per l'applicazione dell'energia elettrica in Italia - Sistema Edison’ in Milan, a committee promoting the use of Edison’s form of electrical energy in Italy.
Lighting of La Scala and the Biffi Café
In 1882, as part of a demonstration campaign, a "Z" dynamo was used in the spring to light the Ridotto of La Scala and the Biffi Café. That same spring, Giuseppe Colombo, with the support of several banks, founded a Promotional Committee for the Application of Electric Energy in Italy, based in Milan.
The First Power Plant
In July of that year, the committee acquired the patents developed in the United States by Thomas Alva Edison and changed its name to the "Committee for the Application of Electricity ‘Edison System’ in Italy." It was decided to build a power plant in the heart of Milan. To do this, the Edison Committee purchased the old Teatro di Santa Radegonda. Demolition of the theater began, and construction of the new power station commenced. It would house the "Jumbo" dynamos that Giuseppe Colombo had personally purchased in the United States.
