Within the next decade, quantum computers will help create the chemicals needed to make energy-efficient fertilizers and significantly cut carbon emissions, an expert told a technology panel last month.
Quantum computers may create molecules that replace chemical catalysts needed for fertilizer production, Jean-Franois Bobier, a Boston Consulting Group partner said at a presentation during the Quantum.Techs Digital Week online conference. Those catalysts consume 3%-5% of the worlds natural gas, cost nearly $300 billion a year and are responsible for 2% of annual worldwide CO2 emissions, Bobier said.
Its a really frustrating problem because we know there is a better way, said Bobier, head of Boston Consultings research and development initiative on quantum computing and technology. Nature is able to do it for free, using just water, air and sunlight. Its just that we can reproduce it at scale in a factory setting.
Todays classical computers, which process information in bits or zeroes and ones, would take over 800,000 years to model the molecules to replace these chemicals. A quantum computer, which processes information in qubits or the superposition of its basis vectors, would require a day, Bobier estimates.
The first replacements for chemicals to synthesize fertilizers, or catalysts, modeled on quantum computers are within our grasp, Bobier said. Although they wont be carbon-neutral, they will be far more carbon-efficient than the 100-year old catalysts in use today.
Quantum computers have the potential to tackle carbon storage, carbon capture and energy production issues that will help stem the tide of CO2 emissions needed to meet the Paris Agreements goal of limiting global warming to less than 2C.
Quantum computers arent quite there yet. Still, Googles quantum computer last year solved in just over 3 minutes a math problem that the tech giant claimed would take the best supercomputer 10,000 years to solve.
Googles quantum computer has 54 qubits. While powerful, this is far from the millions of qubits needed to operate a universal quantum computer with the potential to model the world in a way envisioned by Nobel prize-winning scientist Richard Feynman.
These early quantum computers may be enough to model smaller and less complex molecules such as catalysts.
Catalysts are small molecules, up to 250 atoms, Bobier said. That will be within the grasp of the qubits we will have.
Big corporations are taking note of these first quantum machines under development by Google, IBM, Canadian start-up D-Wave and others which may have enough power to provide an advantage for the development of climate-fighting technologies.
Fertilizer chemical giant BASF teamed up with quantum software consultants HQS to explore algorithms to solve complex problems that may eventually run on quantum computers. Aerospace giant Airbus, automotive company VW and chemical company Evonik, are also exploring the use of quantum computer algorithms now for when the hardware becomes available.
Yes, it will be a long time, and yes, we are going to have to be patient for the use cases, but we need to be prepared now, Bobier said.
Continued here:
Quantum Computing to Be Harnessed in Climate Control Effort - Karma
- The Quantum Computer Revolution Is Closer Than You May Think - National Review - May 3rd, 2017 [May 3rd, 2017]
- Time Crystals Could be the Key to the First Quantum Computer - TrendinTech - May 3rd, 2017 [May 3rd, 2017]
- quantum computing - WIRED UK - May 3rd, 2017 [May 3rd, 2017]
- Chinese scientists build world's first quantum computing machine - India Today - May 3rd, 2017 [May 3rd, 2017]
- Here's How We Can Achieve Mass-Produced Quantum Computers - ScienceAlert - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- D-Wave partners with U of T to move quantum computing along - Financial Post - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Team develops first blockchain that can't be hacked by quantum computer - Siliconrepublic.com - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Telstra just wants a quantum computer to offer as-a-service - ZDNet - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Research collaborative pursues advanced quantum computing - Phys.Org - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Quantum Computing Market Forecast 2017-2022 | Market ... - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Quantum Computing Is Real, and D-Wave Just Open ... - WIRED - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- FinDEVr London: Preparing for the Dark Side of Quantum Computing - GlobeNewswire (press release) - June 9th, 2017 [June 9th, 2017]
- Purdue, Microsoft to Collaborate on Quantum Computer - Photonics.com - June 9th, 2017 [June 9th, 2017]
- Scientists May Have Found a Way to Combat Quantum Computer Blockchain Hacking - Futurism - June 9th, 2017 [June 9th, 2017]
- Microsoft and Purdue work on scalable topological quantum computer - Next Big Future - June 12th, 2017 [June 12th, 2017]
- HYPRES Expands Efforts in Quantum Computing with Launch of European Subsidiary SeeQC - Business Wire (press release) - June 12th, 2017 [June 12th, 2017]
- From the Abacus to Supercomputers to Quantum Computers - Duke Today - June 13th, 2017 [June 13th, 2017]
- Accenture, Biogen, 1QBit Launch Quantum Computing App to ... - HIT Consultant - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- The US and China "Quantum Computing Arms Race" Will Change Long-Held Dynamics in Commerce, Intelligence ... - PR Newswire (press release) - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- Quantum Computing Technologies markets will reach $10.7 billion by 2024 - PR Newswire (press release) - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- A Hybrid of Quantum Computing and Machine Learning Is Spawning New Ventures - IEEE Spectrum - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- KPN CISO details Quantum computing attack dangers - Mobile World Live - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- Get ahead in quantum computing AND attract Goldman Sachs - eFinancialCareers - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- Accenture, 1QBit partner for drug discovery through quantum ... - ZDNet - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- Toward optical quantum computing - MIT News - June 17th, 2017 [June 17th, 2017]
- Quantum computing, the machines of tomorrow | The Japan Times - The Japan Times - June 17th, 2017 [June 17th, 2017]
- Its time to decide how quantum computing will help your ... - June 18th, 2017 [June 18th, 2017]
- Israel Enters Quantum Computer Race, Placing Encryption at Ever-Greater Risk - Sputnik International - June 20th, 2017 [June 20th, 2017]
- Prototype device enables photon-photon interactions at room ... - Phys.Org - June 20th, 2017 [June 20th, 2017]
- Dow and 1QBit Announce Collaboration Agreement on Quantum Computing - Business Wire (press release) - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
- Imperfect crystals may be perfect storage method for quantum computing - Digital Trends - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
- Dow Chemical, 1QBit Ink Quantum Computing Development Deal - Zacks.com - June 22nd, 2017 [June 22nd, 2017]
- Google on track for quantum computer breakthrough by end of 2017 - New Scientist - June 22nd, 2017 [June 22nd, 2017]
- USC to lead project to build super-speedy quantum computers - USC News - June 24th, 2017 [June 24th, 2017]
- The Quantum Computer Factory That's Taking on Google and IBM ... - WIRED - June 24th, 2017 [June 24th, 2017]
- The weird science of quantum computing, communications and encryption - C4ISR & Networks - June 27th, 2017 [June 27th, 2017]
- Multi-coloured photons in 100 dimensions may make quantum ... - Cosmos - June 30th, 2017 [June 30th, 2017]
- Global Quantum Computing Market Growth at a CAGR of 35.12 ... - PR Newswire (press release) - June 30th, 2017 [June 30th, 2017]
- Qudits: The Real Future of Quantum Computing? - IEEE Spectrum - IEEE Spectrum - June 30th, 2017 [June 30th, 2017]
- New method could enable more stable and scalable quantum ... - Phys.Org - June 30th, 2017 [June 30th, 2017]
- Quantum computers are about to get real | Science News - Science News Magazine - June 30th, 2017 [June 30th, 2017]
- Quantum Computing - Scientific American - June 30th, 2017 [June 30th, 2017]
- Australia's ambitious plan to win the quantum race - ZDNet - July 3rd, 2017 [July 3rd, 2017]
- How quantum mechanics can change computing - The Conversation - The Conversation US - August 24th, 2017 [August 24th, 2017]
- UNSW joins with government and business to keep quantum computing technology in Australia - The Australian Financial Review - August 24th, 2017 [August 24th, 2017]
- UNSW launches Australia's first hardware quantum computing company with investments from federal and NSW ... - OpenGov Asia - August 24th, 2017 [August 24th, 2017]
- Finns chill out quantum computers with qubit refrigerator to cut out errors - ZDNet - August 24th, 2017 [August 24th, 2017]
- Hype and cash are muddying public understanding of quantum ... - The Conversation AU - August 24th, 2017 [August 24th, 2017]
- IEEE Approves Standards Project for Quantum Computing ... - insideHPC - August 24th, 2017 [August 24th, 2017]
- Silicon Quantum Computing launched to commercialise UNSW ... - ZDNet - August 24th, 2017 [August 24th, 2017]
- The Era of Quantum Computing Is Here. Outlook: Cloudy ... - January 30th, 2018 [January 30th, 2018]
- The Era of Quantum Computing Is Here. Outlook: Cloudy | WIRED - February 6th, 2018 [February 6th, 2018]
- Quantum computing in the NISQ era and beyond - February 6th, 2018 [February 6th, 2018]
- What is quantum computing? - Definition from WhatIs.com - February 6th, 2018 [February 6th, 2018]
- Quantum computers - WIRED UK - February 19th, 2018 [February 19th, 2018]
- Is Quantum Computing an Existential Threat to Blockchain ... - February 21st, 2018 [February 21st, 2018]
- What is Quantum Computing? Webopedia Definition - March 25th, 2018 [March 25th, 2018]
- Quantum Computing Explained - WIRED UK - April 15th, 2018 [April 15th, 2018]
- Quantum computing: A simple introduction - Explain that Stuff - June 2nd, 2018 [June 2nd, 2018]
- What are quantum computers and how do they work? WIRED ... - June 22nd, 2018 [June 22nd, 2018]
- How Quantum Computers Work - July 22nd, 2018 [July 22nd, 2018]
- The reality of quantum computing could be just three years ... - September 12th, 2018 [September 12th, 2018]
- The 3 Types of Quantum Computers and Their Applications - November 24th, 2018 [November 24th, 2018]
- Quantum Computing - VLAB - January 27th, 2019 [January 27th, 2019]
- Quantum Computing | Centre for Quantum Computation and ... - January 27th, 2019 [January 27th, 2019]
- Microsofts quantum computing network takes a giant leap ... - March 7th, 2019 [March 7th, 2019]
- IBM hits quantum computing milestone, may see 'Quantum ... - March 7th, 2019 [March 7th, 2019]
- Quantum technology - Wikipedia - March 13th, 2019 [March 13th, 2019]
- Quantum Computing | D-Wave Systems - April 18th, 2019 [April 18th, 2019]
- Microsoft will open-source parts of Q#, the programming ... - May 7th, 2019 [May 7th, 2019]
- What Is Quantum Computing? The Complete WIRED Guide | WIRED - May 8th, 2019 [May 8th, 2019]
- The five pillars of Edge Computing -- and what is Edge computing anyway? - Information Age - October 1st, 2019 [October 1st, 2019]
- Moore's Law Is Dying. This Brain-Inspired Analogue Chip Is a Glimpse of What's Next - Singularity Hub - October 1st, 2019 [October 1st, 2019]
- Experts Gather at Fermilab for International Workshop on Cryogenic Electronics for Quantum Systems - Quantaneo, the Quantum Computing Source - October 1st, 2019 [October 1st, 2019]
- Princeton announces initiative to propel innovations in quantum science and technology - Princeton University - October 1st, 2019 [October 1st, 2019]
- Detecting Environmental 'Noise' That Can Damage The Quantum State of Qubits - In Compliance - October 1st, 2019 [October 1st, 2019]
- Quantum Computing beginning talks with clients on its quantum asset allocation application - Proactive Investors USA & Canada - October 1st, 2019 [October 1st, 2019]
- What is quantum computing? The next era of computational evolution, explained - Digital Trends - October 1st, 2019 [October 1st, 2019]
- IT sees the Emergence of Quantum Computing as a Looming Threat to Keeping Valuable Information Confidential - Quantaneo, the Quantum Computing Source - October 23rd, 2019 [October 23rd, 2019]
- More wrong answers get quantum computers to find the right one - Futurity: Research News - October 23rd, 2019 [October 23rd, 2019]