IonQ (NYSE: IONQ), in collaboration with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), has demonstrated its hybrid quantum-classical computing approach for power grid optimization. The team successfully applied this approach to the Unit Commitment problem, a task for power grid operators that involves optimizing the schedule for power generators to meet electricity demand at minimal cost.
The hybrid approach combines IonQ’s 36-qubit Forte Enterprise quantum computing with classical computing resources. This method was used to find solutions for power generation scheduling across 24 time periods and 26 generators. ORNL leads the DOE’s multi-year GRID-Q project, under which IonQ is one of two quantum industry partners developing scalable quantum algorithms for grid operations. Dr. Suman Debnath, who led ORNL’s contributions, indicated the feasibility of using an ion-trapped quantum computing device to address the Unit Commitment problem.
This demonstration signifies a step in applying quantum computing to real-world energy challenges, particularly as power systems grow in complexity with diverse energy resources. The quantum optimization methods explored are applicable across various industries, including logistics, scheduling, and finance. IonQ anticipates that quantum systems with 100 to 200 high-fidelity qubits, expected as early as 2026, could address grid-scale Unit Commitment problems. This research builds on an established relationship between IonQ and ORNL, and contributes to efforts for energy sector modernization.
Read the full announcement here.
July 31, 2025
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