Quantum-in-the-Loop Architecture for Real-Time Grid Contingency Analysis

Abstract

Real-time contingency analysis in power systems requires evaluating thousands of potential failure scenarios within the few minutes available for operator decision-making. As grid complexity increases with distributed energy resources and bidirectional power flows, the computational burden of N-1 and N-2 contingency screening grows beyond the capability of current classical screening methods. We propose a quantum-in-the-loop architecture that integrates quantum computing resources into the real-time operations environment of a grid control center. The architecture uses classical pre-screening to identify the most computationally demanding contingencies, routes these to a quantum processor for rapid evaluation using a variational quantum eigensolver adapted for power flow equations, and returns results to the classical energy management system within the operational time window. We evaluate the architecture in simulation using a digital twin of a 500-bus regional transmission system and demonstrate that quantum-assisted contingency screening can evaluate 3.1x more N-2 contingencies within a 5-minute operational window compared to a purely classical approach. The paper discusses the integration challenges with existing EMS/SCADA systems, the latency requirements for quantum cloud access, and a phased deployment roadmap for Indian transmission operators.

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