Outlook How Quantum Computing Could Transform the Energy and Production World

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Quantum computing is not yet ready for practical use—but the potential for greater sustainability is real. NTT DATA demonstrates why energy supply and production logistics, in particular, could benefit from the technology and why an early look at the topic is already worthwhile for companies today.

Quantum computing is still considered by many as purely futuristic —and in fact, today's quantum computers are not yet advanced enough to deliver a clearly measurable advantage over classical high-performance computing in practical applications, according to NTT Data, a provider of AI, digital, and technology services. Nevertheless, it is already worth taking a closer look: the company highlights two areas where the technology could become particularly relevant in the future.The reason: many key sustainability issues are essentially computational problems—such as optimal energy distribution or minimizing CO₂ emissions in supply chains. For such problems, the number of decision-making options grows so significantly that even powerful CPU/GPU systems reach their limits. 

1. Optimize Energy Supply and Smart Grids

With the expansion of renewable energies, the complexity of grid management is increasing: supply and demand fluctuate, and storage systems and flexible consumers are added. This involves optimization under uncertainty—an area where many simulations are currently needed to reliably estimate rare but critical situations.
Why this is relevant: Better grid planning and management can reduce grid losses, alleviate bottlenecks, and facilitate the integration of renewable energies—a key lever for more sustainable energy supply.

2. Optimize Logistics and Supply Chain Processes in Production

Supply chains bring together numerous decisions: routes, capacity utilization, inventory levels, production sequences, service levels, costs, and CO₂ footprint. Many of these tasks are classic combinatorial optimization problems—and this is precisely where experts see long-term potential for quantum approaches to arrive at good solutions faster.
Why this is relevant: More precise calculations can make production and supply chain planning more energy-efficient, reduce material and transport losses, and help companies respond more quickly and sustainably.

Quantum Computing

System Halt in Quantum Computer

Where Does Quantum Computing Currently Stand?

"Quantum computing is doubly relevant for sustainability," explains Christian Nietner, Innovation Center Lead for Quantum Computing at NTT DATA DACH. "On the one hand, the technology can help us manage complex processes in a way that requires significantly less energy and resources. On the other hand, quantum computing hardware itself has the potential to be operated in the future with less energy than conventional CPUs or GPUs."

The mentioned use cases represent medium- to long-term perspectives, not solutions ready for immediate deployment. For companies in the energy and manufacturing industries, however, it may still be worthwhile to monitor the topic early and explore initial use cases—before the competition does.