Phasecraft to develop quantum algorithms to optimise energy grids

GB quantum algorithms startup Phasecraft has been awarded a £1.2 million ($1.5 million) contract to explore using quantum computing to optimise energy grids.

The funding, awarded as part of the government’s Quantum Catalyst Fund, follows the completion of a phase 1 feasibility study on the topic.

In this second phase, Phasecraft will work with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and the Supergen Energy Networks Hub – a six British university energy networks research consortium – to prioritise and attempt to address such optimisation problems with quantum solutions.

Expressing delight at receiving the contract, Ashley Montanaro, co-founder and CEO of Phasecraft, noted that the grid is coming under increasing pressure as part of the move to net zero.

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“Handling this complexity and improving resilience against vulnerabilities is a significant computational challenge. Quantum computing has the potential to solve important problems in a number of sectors, not least the public sector, and we’re glad that the UK government shares this belief.”

In its National Quantum Strategy published in March 2023, the UK government identified the potential for quantum technologies to offer solutions towards the management and optimisation of the national energy infrastructure, among other areas in the energy sector.

With building and maintaining grid connections costing up to £1.5 million per km of line, determining the optimal layout and usage of this growing infrastructure is important to minimise the costs.

Moreover, the grid is becoming increasingly complex, with the growing numbers of decentralised energy resources coupled with increasing demand of electrification.

Against this background, the traditional algorithms used to optimise the grid are proving no longer fit for purpose, with quantum solutions, well suited to complex optimisation scenarios, expected to be able to fulfil this challenge.

Phasecraft designs novel quantum algorithms based on insights from theoretical physics and computer science, with its early focus on applying these algorithmic improvements to modelling and simulation problems.

Alongside power grid optimisation, another area the company has been working on is the discovery of new materials that can supply clean energy.