Few technologies shape the energy transition as quietly and as decisively as batteries. As renewable generation expands across power grids, the challenge is no longer only how electricity is produced, but how it is stored and released when conditions change. Energy storage has become one of the core forces shaping how the transition unfolds.

Lithium-ion batteries remain central to this shift. Their reliability and versatility have enabled the growth of renewables, electric mobility and more flexible power systems worldwide. As these systems scale, attention is gradually widening toward what future storage technologies might offer, particularly as energy systems demand faster response and greater adaptability over time.

This is where quantum batteries enter the picture. Still largely confined to research laboratories, they draw on principles of quantum physics to store energy in ways that move beyond conventional chemical processes, pointing to alternative paths for how batteries could perform in the future.

Rethinking energy storage with quantum mechanics

Conventional batteries store and release energy through chemical reactions, relying on materials like lithium to store charge. Quantum batteries take a different approach. They draw on the behaviour of photons and the principles of quantum mechanics to store energy in entirely new ways.

Unlike classical systems, where particles exist in one fixed state at a time, quantum particles behave differently. Through a property known as superposition, they can exist in multiple states simultaneously. Another effect, called entanglement, allows particles to remain linked so that a change in one affects another, even when separated. Together, these behaviours create a very different foundation for how energy could be stored and transferred, giving quantum batteries their theoretical edge. In practical terms, this could mean charge times measured in seconds, with energy retention well above today’s norms. More importantly, quantum-based storage could offer greater control over energy flow, sharply reducing the risk of overheating, short-circuiting or thermal failure.

If realised at scale, the technology could redefine performance benchmarks, from everyday devices to electric mobility. But more critically, it points to a deeper shift in how energy storage is approached, with advances in physics increasingly influencing how future energy systems are designed and managed.

The properties of quantum batteries are beginning to be tested beyond purely theoretical models. Researchers at The Institute for Basic Science (IBS) in South Korea have demonstrated, through model systems, how quantum effects can significantly improve charging behaviour, offering early proof-of-concept.

The role of quantum batteries in the energy transition

Amid mounting pressure to decarbonise while meeting growing energy needs, quantum batteries are stepping into the light with improved storage capacity, charging rates, and battery lifetimes. The range of potential applications spans portable electronics to renewable energy systems and electric vehicles.

quantum batteries are stepping into the light with improved storage capacity, charging rates, and battery lifetimes

For instance, quantum-powered medical implants could provide uninterrupted operation, critical for life-saving devices like pacemakers. Theoretically, quantum batteries might also enable energy harvesting from ambient sources like light or heat, creating low-power electronics that recharge autonomously.

The technology could also be key to addressing the intermittency challenge of renewables like solar and wind, which are often dependent on weather conditions. A battery that is capable of harvesting and storing light energy at the same time could reduce costs over time by smoothening supply fluctuations and lowering the operational challenges linked to variable solar output.

For the EV industry, range anxiety could become a thing of the past, with vehicle performance greatly enhanced. Scientists found quantum charging would lead to a 200 times speedup over conventional batteries – cutting home charging times for EVs from 10 hours to 3 minutes. At high-speed charging stations, the charge time would be cut further to mere seconds.

For countries positioning themselves at the intersection of quantum science and clean energy, early investment could translate into long-term strategic leverage across supply chains, and next-generation infrastructure.

Reimagining the future of energy storage in Malaysia

With a sharpened focus on innovation and sustainability, Malaysia is well-positioned to observe, invest in and emerging technologies that could shape the next chapter of its energy transition. Ongoing global research into advanced storage systems, including quantum batteries, points to new possibilities that may influence how energy systems evolve over time.

Malaysia has begun laying critical groundwork for the future of energy storage, recognising its role as a foundational enabler of the country’s low-carbon transition. Under the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), storage is positioned as a key requirement to scaling up renewable energy integration, particularly as solar capacity continues to grow.

Within this context, recent developments signal practical progress. The commissioning of Malaysia’s first large-scale electrochemical energy storage station in Kuching, Sarawak, marks a step forward in strengthening grid reliability for the region. This is reinforced by the government’s move to allow third-party installation of battery energy storage systems (BESS), helping to build experience, capability and confidence in storage development at scale.

With the right investment in research and development, alongside conducive policies and incentives, Malaysia can proactively shape the region’s future energy storage landscape.

Preparing for the next frontier in energy innovation

While quantum batteries remain in the early stages of development, continued breakthroughs in quantum physics and materials science are expanding the horizon of what it could achieve. For the energy sector, this signals a transformative opportunity to overcome long-standing storage challenges that have constrained the scalability of renewables.

The path forward for Malaysia lies in combining scientific curiosity with strategic intent. Continued investment in battery technologies, from proven systems to frontier research, strengthens the foundations of the energy transition while keeping future options open. Quantum batteries are not silver bullets, but they point to why sustained support for storage innovation matters.

For those shaping the country’s energy future, the question is no longer whether storage deserves attention, but how far Malaysia is prepared to look ahead. What if energy could charge in seconds, and last for days?