Engineering researchers at Flinders University have secured major federal backing to develop a quantum computing-based demonstrator designed to improve energy reliability and sustainability for remote communities across Australia.
A quantum computer can perform complex calculations in minutes that could take a conventional supercomputer days, while consuming kilowatts instead of megawatts of power.
The Flinders-led project aims to harness that efficiency to tackle persistent energy challenges in Australia’s most isolated regions.
Led by Professor Apel Mahmud, Professor in Electronic and Electrical Engineering, the $1.45 million initiative will use advanced quantum optimisation and machine learning algorithms to design a working demonstrator for remote community energy systems.
“The demonstrator model will validate the real-world potential of quantum technologies for energy sustainability and reliability,” said Flinders University Professor Mahmud, from the College of Science and Engineering.
The project has been launched with $1.15 million in funding through the Australian government’s Critical Technologies Challenge Program, announced on Friday.
Industry partners EfficientSee and Zeco Australian Energy Solutions are collaborating with Flinders, alongside researchers from two other Australian universities.
Professor Mahmud’s latest research focuses on strengthening sustainable and reliable energy supply systems for rural and remote communities, including First Nations communities that often face high electricity costs and limited generation capacity.
“Building on our feasibility study in State 1, the new energy management system will address complex computational challenges associated with reliable electricity supply to remote areas,” said Professor Mahmud, who is based at Flinders University’s Tonsley campus.
“More intelligent control and forecasting of supply to these remote energy systems will support government efforts to reduce the financial burden of these high-cost systems.
“In particular, First Nations communities stand to benefit directly from improved energy autonomy, while addressing the potential for lower-emissions compared to diesel generators.”
The research team, which also includes Dr Amin Mahmoudi and Dr Naeem Janjua, will create a digital twin of remote energy systems as part of the demonstrator’s development.
The model is designed to be scalable for use in remote communities worldwide.
Beyond regional energy supply, the technology could enhance off-grid agricultural operations, strengthen disaster resilience, and support urban microgrids, defence and emergency response systems.
Growing energy demands from artificial intelligence are fuelling global interest in quantum computing’s efficiency potential.
The International Energy Agency expects data centre electricity consumption to almost double by 2030, while the World Economic Forum has urged governments and industries to focus on “energy-scalable” computational architectures.
The Flinders University project will operate in parallel with another led by La Trobe University, which is exploring quantum-enhanced optimisation for energy-efficient data centres.
Both initiatives aim to strengthen Australia’s capacity in sustainable, high-performance computing and energy management.
“Quantum technologies have tremendous potential to boost local industries and lift productivity in Australia, for the benefit of all Australians,” said Tim Ayres, Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science.
Stage 2 of the Critical Technologies Challenge Program has awarded funding to eight projects nationwide to advance their feasibility studies into prototypes or demonstrators.
