Technology & AIAnalysis
China Integrates Quantum Sensing and Computing into Demonstration Power Grid
Anhui's 220-kilovolt Houdian substation deploys 85 sets of quantum equipment to improve grid monitoring, security, and power flow calculations.
Share
Photo by Sergei Starostin on Pexels
The Brief
China has deployed 18 categories and 85 sets of self-developed quantum technology equipment at the Hefei Houdian 220-kilovolt Quantum Application Demonstration Substation in Anhui province, according to People's Daily. Commissioned in November 2024 as China's first quantum-focused substation, the facility incorporates quantum precision sensing, encrypted communications, and quantum computing algorithms. Grid engineers tested power flow calculations for real grid topologies using the domestic "Origin Wukong" quantum computer, seeking to solve traditional power grid limitations in monitoring accuracy, cyber protection, and computational bottlenecks caused by high renewable energy integration.
Why it matters
The Hefei Houdian substation represents a transition for quantum technology in China's energy infrastructure from isolated lab experiments to systematic industrial application. Integrating quantum precision measurement, quantum-secured communication, and quantum computing addresses key operational vulnerabilities created by fluctuating renewable energy inputs, offering a template for upgrading national critical infrastructure.
China context
The initiative aligns with China's dual strategy of accelerating its new power system construction and maintaining leadership in quantum technology. By leveraging Anhui province's concentration of quantum research resources and connecting state-of-the-art quantum sensors with the domestic "Origin Wukong" quantum computer, State Grid is advancing technological self-reliance across critical energy infrastructure.
Editor's View
EDITOR'S VIEW — Analysis and inference, not factual reporting.
While the deployment of 85 quantum devices across a single 220kV substation showcases technical versatility, the long-term viability of quantum-enabled power grids depends on economic scalability and hardware durability under severe operational conditions. The successful test of power flow algorithms on the "Origin Wukong" quantum computer demonstrates potential for real-time grid simulation, but scaling these algorithms to handle province-wide or national power networks will require significant advances in error mitigation and software standardization.
What to watch
- Expansion of quantum sensing technologies to higher voltage grids and other provincial utility networks.
- Progress by energy and quantum standardization committees in establishing official technical specifications for power-sector quantum devices.
- Performance and error rates of quantum power flow algorithms during real-time simulations on larger, more complex grid topologies.
Key Takeaways
- 1China's first quantum demonstration substation in Hefei deploys 85 sets of quantum equipment across 18 technical categories.
- 2The project covers three major areas: quantum precision sensing, quantum-encrypted communication, and quantum computing.
- 3Grid power flow algorithms were tested on the domestic "Origin Wukong" quantum computer using real network topology data.
- 4The system aims to address traditional grid limitations in monitoring accuracy, cyber defense, and real-time computation under high renewable integration.
In Anhui province, China’s State Grid has turned a 220-kilovolt substation in Hefei into an operational proving ground for quantum technologies aimed at modernizing power infrastructure. According to People's Daily, the Hefei Houdian Quantum Application Demonstration Substation—commissioned in November 2024 as the country's first quantum demonstration substation—has deployed 85 sets of self-developed quantum devices spanning 18 distinct technological categories.
The facility addresses three primary vulnerabilities in traditional power grids operating under high proportions of renewable energy: low monitoring precision with delayed response times, cybersecurity risks in data transmission, and severe computing bottlenecks for real-time grid management. To replace manual inspection and improve diagnostic speed, the unmanned station utilizes various quantum precision measurement tools. These include diamond quantum material current sensors, quantum tunneling sensors for monitoring tower tilt angles, and quantum dot gas-sensitive materials designed for early fire and partial electrical discharge warnings.
In addition to ground equipment, the substation employs long-range quantum LiDAR to monitor atmospheric conditions up to 15 kilometers away, enabling early warnings for severe weather. High-voltage transmission towers feature quantum posture sensors capable of measuring magnetic variations as weak as one ten-thousandth of Earth's magnetic field. For cybersecurity, the site relies on quantum key distribution over optical fibers alongside "5G plus quantum" encrypted channels to safeguard control signals and data transmission.
On the computational front, utility researchers developed grid power flow calculation methods based on quantum algorithms. These algorithms were tested and validated on real power grid topologies using "Origin Wukong," China's domestically produced superconducting quantum computer. Tian Teng, a senior engineer at State Grid Anhui Electric Power Research Institute, noted that this milestone provides a new technical pathway for large-scale power system simulations, which could enhance real-time grid analytical capacity as variable renewable inputs expand.
Sources
- 构建新型电力系统，有套“量子方案”（大数据观察·“六张网”里的新动能）--经济·科技--人民网 — People's Daily · 7/29/2026