A national hub for quantum technologies in power & energy.
Quantum4EnergyNL is a 4TU-supported initiative bringing together researchers and practitioners at the intersection of quantum technologies and power engineering across the Netherlands.
The energy transition is placing extraordinary demands on the three capabilities that underpin power and energy systems: high-fidelity measurement, cybersecurity, and large-scale computation. As these systems become more interconnected, digitalised, and constrained by sustainability and geo-strategic objectives, conventional approaches are increasingly reaching their limits.
Quantum technologies offer a fundamentally different paradigm across all three fronts. Quantum sensing enables high-precision monitoring of physical grid assets, from fault detection to the localisation of underground cables, and is the most immediately applicable today. Quantum communications, in particular post-quantum cryptography, address the urgent cybersecurity needs of increasingly digitalised critical infrastructure. Quantum computing is expected to deliver value over the medium to long term, initially through hybrid quantum-classical methods for hard optimisation and planning problems such as congestion management, optimal power flow, and market operations.
The Netherlands has strong research in both quantum technologies and the energy transition, but work at the intersection of the two has developed in parallel, without much coordination or visibility. Quantum4EnergyNL exists to close that gap. It brings together researchers across the 4TU and beyond, together with industry, to build a cross-disciplinary community and give shared direction, visibility, and momentum to research on quantum technologies for power and energy systems.
Building a national hub.
Connect the community
Build a cross-disciplinary community of researchers and practitioners approaching power and energy systems from both the ICT and electrical engineering domains, with an interest in quantum technology applications.
Map the landscape
Organise activities to jointly assess the current research landscape in the Netherlands, and identify strategic research gaps and application areas where the 4TU can lead.
Shape the agenda
Raise the visibility and influence of 4TU research in quantum technologies for power and energy by producing a joint research agenda, sharing it with funding agencies, and networking with industry and academic partners at the national and European level.
Sustain the collaboration
Establish a long-term collaboration platform within the 4TU, with the ambition to develop joint interdisciplinary national and European projects on quantum technologies for power and energy systems.
