Experts Discuss How Quantum Computing Could Aid Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies

According to leading experts, quantum computing is likely to emerge as one of the most transformative technologies in the field of climate change mitigation. 

Quantum technologies may one day change the game in efforts to fight global warming, said Maria Maragkou of Riverlane and Ilyas Khan of Quantinuum, speaking at the India Global Forum 2024. 

Khan explained that quantum computers work on quantum mechanics to do calculations far beyond our current, classical computers, which in turn brings new opportunities to address previously impossible tasks related to climate change.

“Carbon sequestration is huge,” Khan noted. “For 70 years [it’s been] something that we have not done and the likelihood is within the next 3 to 7 years this will be solved.” He stressed that quantum computing could enable breakthroughs in developing materials to effectively capture and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Beyond carbon sequestration, Khan outlined other potential climate applications, adding that both hydrogen fuel cells and battery storage could benefit from quantum computing-powered investigations. He cited Airbus as once company actively looking into how quantum could provide additional computational power to create fuel cell and battery storage innovations.

However, Maragkou cautioned that while quantum systems exist today, they are not yet at the scale needed to solve major real-world problems. 

“At the moment, everything we can do on a quantum computer more or less we can simulate classically,” she said, though she predicted a key milestone within two years: “The first inflection point [is] to be able to go beyond that so have machines that can sustain a lot of quantum operations and can solve problems that are not at the moment solvable on a classical computer.”

Both experts emphasized the urgency of leveraging quantum computing alongside other technologies to address climate change. 

“Climate change is a massive problem and therefore we have to solve it now,” Maragkou asserted. “We have to use any means possible that we have now at our disposal to try to find the solution to it.”

Khan added that quantum computing has moved beyond theoretical research, with major companies now actively pursuing climate-related quantum applications. 

“This is no longer a lab,” he stated. “The tipping point was probably two years ago.”

The experts also paid attention to the importance of ensuring equitable access to quantum technologies globally. Maragkou noted: “The quantum industry has taken notice and we know that we know this has happened and we definitely want to avoid it. Quantum computing can absolutely change the world, but we have to develop in a way that the merits and the benefits that can come from quantum computing can be spread across society in the best way possible.”

As quantum computing approaches a pivotal stage of development, both Maragkou and Khan called for collaborative efforts across sectors to responsibly harness its potential for climate solutions. With continued investment and focus, quantum technologies may indeed prove to be a powerful new weapon in humanity’s fight against climate change.

Featured image: Credit: India Global Forum 2024