A Survey on Quantum-Secured Microgrids: Opportunities and Challenges

The growing demand for microgrids (MGs) and networked microgrids (NMGs) is driven by the prospects of improved reliability of energy supply and enhanced resilience of the energy grid in changing energy demands. The integration of data communications and industrial control systems has enabled NMGs to provide real-time monitoring and refined control for applications such as energy load balancing. These systems rely on current public-key cryptosystems to secure data communications based on certain computational hardness assumptions. However, the advent of quantum computing poses a significant threat to these cryptosystems because quantum algorithms, such as Shor’s algorithm, have demonstrated that quantum computers are capable of cracking these cryptosystems in practical time. To address this emerging challenge, quantum secure technologies such as postquantum cryptography and quantum key distribution are being explored as complementary approaches to achieve quantum-resilient security. This article reviews the ideas of quantum-secured NMGs (QS-NMGs) and identifies the relevant quantum-cryptographic technologies for QS-NMGs. The study will help scientists, engineers, and policymakers identify limitations of the current literature and discover future research avenues.