Swinburne University of Technology and Siemens lead first Australian study on quantum timing to strengthen the future of power grids

Swinburne University of Technology and Siemens are undertaking first-of-its-kind research in Australia, into how quantum-enhanced timing can help future-proof the energy grid and increase grid stability.

The study comes as Australia’s energy mix continues to shift toward renewables, distributed energy resources and inverter-dominated networks that place greater pressure on ensuring regular flow of energy.

Speaking on this announcement at an event with some of the country’s leading grid planners and operators, Peter Halliday, CEO of Siemens Australia and New Zealand said, “Siemens has been helping Australia grow and keep the lights on for over 150 years.

Leading technology and innovation only make a difference when combined with people and collaboration. This joint research with Swinburne University challenges the status-quo and helps build our electricity grid’s resilience with a much more complex energy mix.”

The project brings together QuantX Labs’ advanced quantum clock and quantum-secured time transfer capabilities with Siemens’ globally renowned PSS^®E technology, used in over 145 countries worldwide, and the Siemens Swinburne Energy Transition Hub, a real-time digital twin of Australia’s energy system.

Today, grid functions rely on satellite-based timing signals, including Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), which can be vulnerable to disruption, interference or cyber threats. As the power grid becomes more decentralised and complex, precise timing is increasingly critical for system protection, monitoring, and continuous power supply. This research will examine how quantum-enabled timing technologies could provide a more resilient approach for future grid architectures and a reliable alternative to current satellite-based timing technologies.

Swinburne will use PSS^®E technology to simulate grid scenarios using quantum timing technology. The announcement was made at the Siemens PSS^®E Customer Days event that empowers grid planning professionals with the latest global innovations.

Jose Moreira, head of Grid Software for Siemens in Asia Pacific said, “The research sits at the intersection of next-generation quantum technologies and future energy systems. It explores how ultra-precise timing can shape the future grid. By combining Siemens’ leadership in grid simulation with Swinburne’s energy industry research capability, we are helping the industry address today’s challenges while preparing for the next generation of energy networks.”

Siemens’s partnership with Swinburne was strengthened in 2023 with the launch of the Siemens Swinburne Energy Transition Hub, a future energy grid laboratory open to students, academia and industry. It uses some of Siemens’ most advanced digital technology to address Australia’s renewable energy transition challenges.

Swinburne’s Professor Mehdi Seyedmahmoudian, Director of the Siemens–Swinburne Energy Transition (SSET) Hub, welcomed the collaboration, saying, “This research is exploring an area that is still largely uncharted globally. As power systems become more distributed, dynamic and complex, precise and resilient timing will play an increasingly important role in maintaining stability. Through our collaboration with Siemens, we are investigating how emerging quantum technologies can support next-generation energy networks, while also demonstrating how the SSET Hub translates ideas into real-world impact.”

Professor Allison Kealy, another key expert from Swinburne’s team of researchers, added, “Advancements in quantum technologies will bring greater confidence in precision, timing and trust in critical infrastructure, including energy systems.”