EDF turns to quantum computing to boost electric vehicle smart charging
Image: Peugeot
EDF along with quantum computing specialist Pasqal and high performance computing agency GENCI have demonstrated the potential of quantum computing to optimise EV smart charging.
In the project, which was led by GENCI (Grand Équipment National de Calcul Intensif) as a quantum inception programme, the use case with energy demand forecasting on more than 100 qubits was successfully run.
With this, the way is opened for the potential of Pasqal’s neutral-atom quantum computing to tackle the forecasting and optimisation challenges posed by the growing complexity of energy supply and demand as EV ownership grows.
“Our collaboration with Pasqal has been all about exploring new possibilities, and we’ve reached a new frontier of electricity management optimisation with quantum computers,” said Jospeh Mikael, Head of Quantum Computing at EDF.
“At EDF, we are committed to harnessing the power of quantum computing to accompany the energy transition, and thanks to Pasqal we continue to make progress in this direction.”
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In 2023, over a quarter of new cars sold in France were EVs or plug-in hybrid vehicles, up almost 50% from the previous year prior.
This growing number of EVs being plugged into the grid, coupled with the growth of decentralised and intermittent renewables, is creating increasing complexity for predicting and planning electricity demand and distribution.
Quantum computing is expected to have the capacity to schedule resource allocation in this environment, taking into account expected and real-time availability and strain for more accurate forecasting of energy demand.
Loïc Henriet, co-CEO of Pasqal, comments that the rapid progress seen over the last few months is tangible proof of the potential value of quantum computing in the energy forecasting space.
“EDF and GENCI are ahead of the curve in prioritising the deployment of new-age solutions capable of combatting the limitations of traditional computers and AI.”
The partnership between Pasqal, EDF and GENCI is part of Pack Quantique quantum inception programme to support the quantum computing sector funded by the Île de France Paris Region.
EDF has been partnering with Pasqal on quantum computing use case since 2018, in particular on solutions to hard optimisation problems.
The programme is being run on ‘Ruby’, a 100-qubit quantum system installed and operated by the French Alternative Agencies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) at its high performance computing centre outside Paris.
