A County in Zhejiang Demonstrates Leadership with Complete 5G Quantum Switch Deployment on Main Power Lines

On May 14th, a quantum switch for power distribution networks quietly began its operation. It was installed by State Grid Hangzhou Power Supply Company on the Yanjia R421 line Banqiao branch line at an altitude of 920 meters in Chun’an County. This marks the realization of full coverage of 5G quantum switches on the main power lines in the western mountainous areas of Zhejiang Province.

Chun’an County, the largest in Zhejiang by area, presents a significant geographical challenge for its power grid, with 80% of lines running through mountainous terrain and experiencing an elevation change of up to 800 meters. Villages at high altitudes often face extreme weather conditions such as ice storms and thunderstorms throughout the year. Automated systems relying on optical fiber communication, like those used in urban areas, often face the risk of communication interruptions due to the complex geological conditions of the mountainous areas and the vulnerability of optical fibers to natural disasters. Additionally, the laying of optical cables is time-consuming and expensive.

To address this challenge, State Grid Hangzhou Power Supply Company has explored the efficient integration and interoperation of 5G communication technology, quantum encryption technology, and power distribution network equipment. Through the full coverage installation of “5G + Quantum” switches on the main lines in the mountainous areas of Chun’an, a foundation has been laid for building a “high-resilience self-healing power grid” in the western mountainous areas of Zhejiang.

The application of “5G + Quantum” switches is akin to equipping the mountainous power lines with “thousand-mile eyes” and the ability to “strike from a distance”. When affected by extreme weather or other factors, communication via optical cables may fail, but “5G + Quantum” switches still retain remote control capabilities, allowing for remote control of on-site equipment switching and timely restoration of power supply. Compared with traditional power operation and maintenance methods, the application of “5G + Quantum” switches has increased the speed of fault recovery by nearly 10 times, effectively preventing over 2,000 hours of accumulated power outages for residents and businesses in the mountainous areas.

With the full coverage of “5G + Quantum” switches on the main lines in the mountainous areas of Chun’an, a fundamental transformation is taking place in the operation and maintenance model of the mountainous power grid, realizing a leap from “passive repair” to “active self-healing”. Now, 507 “5G + Quantum” switches, acting as “power sentinels”, are monitoring the overhead lines in the mountainous areas of Chun’an around the clock. (By Ren Maopan & Jiang Zhefeng)