In Hefei, Anhui Province, China, the country’s first demonstration power substation systematically utilizing quantum technologies has been launched. The Houdian facility, with a voltage of 220 kV, became operational in November 2024, as reported by People’s Daily Online.
The partially automated node houses 85 self-developed quantum devices, divided into 18 categories. These are used in three main areas: sensing, communication, and computing.
The main technical arsenal of the power substation includes:
- Diamond quantum sensors. Used for high-precision monitoring of current fluctuations;
- Quantum dot sensors. Continuously analyze the gas environment inside control cabinets, detecting potential cable fire risks and partial electrical discharges;
- Quantum lidar. Scans atmospheric particles and cloud cover within a 15-kilometer radius, providing early warnings of weather risks;
- Quantum position sensors. Installed on power line supports, they can detect magnetic field changes at 1/10,000 of Earth’s magnetic field, ensuring high-level control over support alignment;
- Quantum cryptography. All data exchange at the substation is secured using fiber-optic quantum communication and encrypted 5G+ quantum channels, making it nearly impossible to intercept control of the facility;
- Power flow analysis. Calculations for the substation are performed by the Origin Wukong quantum computer, which could potentially solve the problem of real-time modeling of large-scale power grids in the future.
Due to the widespread adoption of renewable energy sources and complex power electronics, traditional power grids are struggling to cope with the load. Additionally, these systems lack precision in monitoring, decision-making speed, and security in command transmission.
In a media comment, Tian Teng, an engineer at the Digitalization Institute of the State Grid Anhui Electric Power Research Institute, explained the transition to new technologies as an objective necessity:
“The new system can significantly faster detect and diagnose equipment defects, reducing both inspection costs and operational expenses.”
The report does not specify whether the quantum machine performed analysis faster or more accurately compared to traditional computing systems.
According to project engineers, the innovation allowed the Houdian substation to reduce its annual electricity measurement error by more than 500,000 kWh. Technologies tested at this facility are already being implemented in other power grids in Anhui Province.
In August, Quantinuum and Taiwanese computing infrastructure manufacturer Quanta Computer signed an agreement to jointly develop a hardware platform for future large-scale quantum systems.
