The Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP) has officially opened the Quantum and Intelligent Systems Laboratory for Power Engineering (QISLaP), the country’s first quantum research lab focused on the energy sector. The facility is funded by the Department of Science and TechnologyPhilippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) with a grant of PHP 18 million ($314K $USD).

QISLaP will support research on hybrid quantum computing models aimed at improving forecasting and optimization in power systems. Initial research will focus on predicting energy-related metrics such as electricity demand, solar irradiance, wind speed, and electricity prices using hybrid algorithms that combine classical and quantum techniques. TIP professor Gerard Francesco Apolinario, who leads the Q-RIEnTe project, emphasized the role of hybrid quantum-classical workflows in addressing real-world optimization and prediction challenges in energy systems.

The laboratory will also serve as a testbed for simulating renewable energy scenarios, including ongoing work with Batangas 1 Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BATELEC I) to explore optimization of distributed energy systems. The project is intended to inform both operational decisions and long-term infrastructure planning in the energy sector.

The lab is open to both TIP researchers and external collaborators, and is part of a broader initiative to build quantum capability in the Philippines. According to DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr., the investment represents a strategic step in building national resilience and sustainability in energy through advanced technologies. DOST-PCIEERD Executive Director Enrico Paringit also described the facility as a transformative platform to close gaps in the energy sector through smarter, more efficient systems.

Read the full article here and the official DOST-PCIEERD release here.

March 29, 2025