The field of quantum communications is currently undergoing a phase of true industrial expansion due to the high level of technological maturity of various products already available on the market. This expansion is fueled by the definition of significant European and global digitalization policies, which designate quantum communications as a necessary technology for the resilience of future communication systems, especially for critical infrastructures such as power grids, hospitals, banks, and institutions.

RSE has initiated an in-depth investigation into this vast world of new technologies to understand their potential, costs, methods, and timelines for possible implementation within the electrical system. It’s important to note that specific publications on the application of quantum communications in the electrical sector and smart grids are still rare, and available literature generally remains at a general level.

Specific issues for this application area, such as the use of optical fibers in high-voltage line guard wires and typical installation conditions in electrical substations, have not yet been addressed. In this context, the primary goal of RSE’s research activities is to provide an accessible description of quantum technologies and an overview that contextualizes them with respect to the specificities of the electrical sector.

The use cases and operating principles of these technologies are explained in a non-technical manner and following an in-depth review of the state-of-the-art quantum communication techniques, the most interesting technologies to further explore are identified.

A lack of knowledge regarding implementation issues on existing infrastructures becomes evident when transitioning from theoretical use cases to practical applications. The encountered difficulties stem from limited technical specifications of commercially available products and the fact that academic research lacks specific knowledge on performance-influencing installation conditions.

The final aim evaluate the potential use of typical communication infrastructures of the electrical system for quantum communications and to understand how robust these communication systems are when deployed in an industrial environment with severe and uncontrolled environmental conditions, such as those found in power grids, and to pinpoint the main installation issues specific to power systems that require a detailed analysis of the noise sources that may be detrimental for the whole communication process.

The Report is available on the Italian site