China is piloting quantum sensors at a Hefei substation to detect faults and catch potential outages before they start. The technology could cut electricity measurement errors at the site by more than 500,000 kilowatt-hours a year. The project taps into a broader global race, from MIT to Tokyo, to apply quantum breakthroughs to energy and grid reliability.
Global energy grids are under unprecedented stress as energy flows become more complex with the addition of intermittent energy sources. The U.S. Department of Energy writes that modernizing the grid can greatly reduce the frequency and duration of power outages.
The substation has been the testing site for a series of quantum technologies since its construction in 2024, including an 18-month trial of quantum sensors used to detect defects and issues within the power grid.
