Quantum computing is coming fast. Are utilities ready?

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Today’s utility work on quantum computing has one key goal: to not be left scrambling to address quantum’s impact on overall electricity demand and its curious load profile, like the electric power sector has been with artificial intelligence.

Quantum computing harnesses the principles of quantum mechanics to process information in ways classical computers cannot, said Jeremy Renshaw, the director of open power AI and quantum with the Electric Power Research Institute. It adds new computing capabilities that complement classical computing, he added.

Those capabilities could reduce AI data centers’ electricity use, improve cybersecurity and optimize power system dispatch.

“In the near future, for the subset of problems where quantum computing holds an advantage, such as large-scale optimization and materials science, it offers polynomial or even exponential speedup,” Renshaw said. “Longer term, quantum computing will be the go-to resource for solving large scale problems.”