Qubit Engineering lands partnership with MTSU and Middle Tennessee Electric to progress electric distribution grid analytics
The three will develop, test and validate advanced analytics tools for electric distribution systems. The goal is to move new algorithms from prototype to field in mere months.
Chattanooga has become known as Tennessee’s quantum hub, but Middle Tennessee is having a quantum moment, too. With rising energy demands, it’s a good thing that there’s enough room for quantum innovation to go around.
The work will focus on power flow analysis, contingency screening, grid visualization tools and battery dispatch optimization.
- MTSU is offering its research faculty and graduate student researchers.
- Middle Tennessee Electric (MTE) contributes operational data, field experience and an advanced distribution grid for optimization.
- Qubit Engineering brings its quantum-inspired optimization technology and AI-based analysis platform.
Qubit’s CEO and co-founder, Marouane Salhi, is a known name. He did post-doctoral work at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. A few years later, he was accepted into the seventh cohort of Innovation Crossroads and sponsored by the Tennessee Valley Authority. The company also recently competed for PYA’s 2026 Ballard Innovation Award.
Catching up with Salhi about this milestone, he said that this announcement was a long-time coming and well thought out, as it should be. After all, the tools will be validated on MTE’s advanced grid rather than on synthetic test cases.
While quantum hardware is being developed in specialized laboratories, advancing real-world quantum and AI applications requires close collaboration between technology developers like Qubit Engineering and industry partners to ensure these technologies are designed, tested and validated for practical deployment.
The work began this month, and MTE reports initial results are expected within 12 weeks.
Read the full release here.
Like what you've read?
Forward to a friend!