£6.2 million has been awarded to the University of Edinburgh’s Quantum Software Lab to address growing cybersecurity vulnerabilities within the UK energy sector as quantum computing capabilities advance. The project, titled Network Security in a Quantum Future, will deliver the open-source Quantum Threat Tracker, a tool designed to estimate when existing energy systems will become susceptible to quantum attacks, shifting from reactive to proactive security measures. Collaboration is central to the effort, with Scottish Power Energy Networks and National Gas working alongside the University to prepare for these emerging risks. “By combining expertise in quantum computing, uncertainty quantification and energy systems, this project will provide evidence-based tools to support a secure and cost-effective transition to a post-quantum future,” says Dr. Petros Wallden, Deputy Director of Research at the Quantum Software Lab.
While current computers would take millions of years to crack certain complex codes, quantum computing promises to dramatically reduce that timeframe, creating a significant cybersecurity threat that demands proactive mitigation. This project, formally known as Network Security in a Quantum Future, moves beyond theoretical risk assessment and into the development of practical tools for energy companies. Complementing this is the Quantum-Aware Risk Management tool, intended to support strategic planning for the adoption of quantum-safe technologies across a broad range of energy assets and prioritize future protective measures. The initiative builds upon earlier research identifying potential vulnerabilities and mitigation strategies, now progressing to deliver operational tools for network operators. Professor Chris Dent added, “In addition to the importance to the energy system of maintaining cyber security in the post-quantum world, our work on the consequences of uncertainty in technology projections is an exciting technical challenge, which we are confident we can address alongside our colleagues in the other project partners.”
By combining expertise in quantum computing, uncertainty quantification and energy systems, this project will provide evidence-based tools to support a secure and cost-effective transition to a post quantum future.
The escalating potential of quantum computing to disrupt current encryption standards is now prompting proactive cybersecurity measures within critical national infrastructure, specifically the UK energy sector. This £6.2 million in funding supports the “Network Security in a Quantum Future” project, which aims to deliver solutions capable of forecasting and managing the timeline of quantum-enabled cyberattacks on energy systems. Researchers are not simply reacting to potential threats; they are building tools to anticipate when existing infrastructure will become susceptible. Central to this effort is the Quantum Threat Tracker, an open-source software solution designed to estimate vulnerability timelines for diverse energy systems. These tools build upon earlier research that pinpointed specific vulnerabilities within energy infrastructures and identified initial mitigation strategies for network operators.
