The city of Hefei in Anhui Province, China has introduced the nation’s first demonstration power substation that systematically integrates quantum technologies. The Houdian facility, operating at a voltage of 220 kV, commenced operations in November 2024, as reported by People’s Daily Online.

This partially automated substation is equipped with 85 proprietary quantum devices categorized into 18 groups. These devices serve three primary functions: sensing, communication, and computation.

Source: Anhui Pictorial.

Key technical components of the substation include:

  • Diamond quantum sensors. These are utilized for precise monitoring of current fluctuations;
  • Quantum dot sensors. They continuously analyze the gas environment within control cabinets to detect potential fire risks in cables and partial electrical discharges;
  • Quantum lidar. This technology scans atmospheric particles and cloud cover within a 15-kilometer radius, providing early warnings of weather-related risks;
  • Quantum position sensors. Installed on power line supports, these sensors can detect changes in the magnetic field at a sensitivity of 1/10,000 of the Earth's magnetic field, ensuring accurate alignment of the supports;
  • Quantum cryptography. All data exchanges at the substation are secured through fiber-optic quantum communication and encrypted channels using the 5G+ quantum standard, making unauthorized control interception nearly impossible;
  • Power flow analysis. A quantum computer known as Origin Wukong performs calculations for the substation, which could potentially address the challenge of real-time modeling in large-scale energy networks in the future.

As renewable energy sources proliferate and power electronics become increasingly complex, traditional energy networks struggle to handle the demands. Additionally, these systems often lack the precision needed for monitoring, the speed required for decision-making, and the security necessary for command transmission.

In a statement to the media, Tian Ten, an engineer at the Digitalization Institute of the State Grid Anhui Electric Power Research Institute, emphasized the necessity of transitioning to new technologies:

"The new system can significantly speed up the identification and diagnosis of equipment defects, reducing both inspection costs and operational expenses."

The report does not specify whether the quantum machine performs analyses faster or more accurately than traditional computing systems.

Project engineers estimate that the innovation has enabled the Houdian substation to reduce its annual measurement error in electricity by over 500,000 kWh. The technologies tested at this facility are already being deployed across other energy networks in Anhui Province.

Notably, in August, Quantinuum and Taiwanese computing infrastructure manufacturer Quanta Computer entered into a partnership to co-develop a hardware platform for future large-scale quantum systems.