Introduction to Quantum Computing

Quantum computing is no longer a futuristic dream; it’s being used right now to optimize finance, discover new drugs, secure networks, and even build better batteries. We’re going to hear a lot about quantum computing in the coming years. Once real-world mainstream use cases start to appear, it will become one of the hottest topics in tech, up there with AI.

The Current State of Quantum Computing

Things are moving steadily towards that point. The investment pouring into quantum service providers and startups shows that industry understands its significance. And a growing number of real-world use cases are emerging to demonstrate its value outside of the laboratory. Quantum computers harness the properties of quantum mechanics to perform some tasks millions of times more quickly than classical computers. This will make them hugely transformative in fields including finance, cybersecurity, medicine and material sciences.

Real-World Applications of Quantum Computing

So, let’s take a look at what quantum computers are actually being used for today to understand how they are already pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

Optimizing Transactions In Financial Services

A collaboration between IBM, Quantinuum, Banca D’Italia and several universities has produced a quantum computer system capable of tackling highly complex optimization tasks. It’s thought that this technology could save financial institutions millions of dollars by reducing delays in settling payments on the TARGET2-Securities platform used to manage stock trades. Quantum computers are great for solving these kinds of mathematical problems, involving finding the best combinations of numerous complex variables. In this case, the optimization involves finding the most efficient methods of processing transactions as quickly as possible. The World Economic Forum believes that applying quantum computer technology to financial services optimization problems in this way will unlock $2 trillion in economic value by 2035.

Drug Discovery

Quantum computers are especially good at simulating the real world because the real world follows the rules of quantum physics — something traditional computers, which rely on simple binary logic, struggle to replicate accurately. In fact, Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman once said, "Nature isn’t classical, dammit! And if you want to make a simulation of nature, you’d better make it quantum mechanical." Quantum computing pioneers Qubit Pharmaceuticals leverage this ability of quantum computing to more accurately model and predict the interactions between medicinal particles and disease targets in the human body. According to their founder, 70% of these interactions are too complex to model on classical computers. This means that quantum computers are far more likely to identify potential candidates for new drugs and treatments. Google and IBM are also building quantum computing technology optimized for this task.

Quantum-Secured Networks

Network security protocols developed using quantum techniques have been rolled out in high-stakes environments, including telecommunications and government communications infrastructure. Samsung has built quantum key distribution (QKD) into its Galaxy Quantum range of smartphones, and the technology has been used by Hyundai and Toshiba to create quantum-secured networks. China Telecom is planning to launch the first quantum-secured global telecommunications network by 2027. QKD works because of the quirky quantum principle that observing a particle changes its state, meaning any attempt at snooping can instantly be detected and shut down.

Better Batteries

Batteries are usually the most expensive component of electric vehicles. The need to generate a large amount of energy from a device of the minimum size, weight and manufacturing cost creates a tough engineering challenge. A partnership between Hyundai and IonQ, however, has resulted in technology that can better model the properties of lithium compounds used in battery cathodes. This enables researchers to quickly test candidate materials via simulation and vastly speed up the discovery process. The result is batteries that hold power for longer, charge quicker and can be made from a wider range of materials.

Truly Random Numbers

Banking giant JPMorgan Chase has been a leading investor in quantum computing research for some time, and it could now be starting to pay off. The bank’s research division, working alongside academics from the University of Texas and other leading institutions, has developed methods of generating truly unpredictable numbers. Classical computers, by comparison, use deterministic methods of generating “random” numbers, so they aren’t truly random and, in theory, can always be cracked or traced back to a seed by sufficiently powerful computers. It’s believed that random numbers generated in this way will form the basis of the more secure cryptography techniques of the future.

Towards Commercial Quantum Computing

Everything covered here is happening in the real world now, even if it is all being built on bespoke architecture by companies with very deep pockets. However, Google’s head of Quantum, Hartmut Neven, believes it will be as little as five years before commercial off-the-shelf quantum applications are available. This will be the real game-changer as the power of quantum becomes accessible to a far wider range of businesses and organizational users, further accelerating innovation. While quantum computers won’t replace classical computers for every task, the tasks they do excel at are high-value and often business-critical. Everyone involved in fields that will be directly impacted should prepare immediately for dramatic transformations that will occur when this technological revolution fully begins.

Conclusion

Quantum computing is no longer a futuristic dream, but a reality that is being used to optimize finance, discover new drugs, secure networks, and build better batteries. With its ability to perform tasks millions of times more quickly than classical computers, quantum computing will have a significant impact on various industries. As commercial off-the-shelf quantum applications become available, the power of quantum will become accessible to a wider range of businesses and organizational users, leading to further innovation and transformation.

FAQs

• What is quantum computing?
  Quantum computing is a type of computing that uses the principles of quantum mechanics to perform tasks that are beyond the capabilities of classical computers.
• What are the current applications of quantum computing?
  Quantum computing is currently being used in finance, drug discovery, network security, and battery development, among other fields.
• What is the potential impact of quantum computing on various industries?
  Quantum computing has the potential to unlock $2 trillion in economic value by 2035, and will have a significant impact on various industries, including finance, healthcare, and technology.
• When will commercial off-the-shelf quantum applications be available?
  Google’s head of Quantum, Hartmut Neven, believes that commercial off-the-shelf quantum applications will be available in as little as five years.
• How will quantum computing change the way we work?
  Quantum computing will enable businesses and organizations to perform tasks that are currently impossible or impractical with classical computers, leading to increased efficiency, innovation, and transformation.

Technology for social change is revolutionizing the way we approach the climate crisis, and it’s time to harness its power to achieve a net-zero future. The climate crisis is one of the most pressing issues of our time, with rising temperatures, melting ice caps, and extreme weather events becoming the new norm. To mitigate its effects, we need to reduce our carbon footprint and transition to a more sustainable and renewable energy-based economy.

Understanding the Climate Crisis

The climate crisis is a complex issue, and understanding its causes and effects is crucial to developing effective solutions. Human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and land-use changes are releasing large amounts of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and methane, into the atmosphere, leading to global warming. The consequences of inaction will be catastrophic, with rising sea levels, more frequent natural disasters, and devastating impacts on ecosystems and human societies.

The Science Behind Climate Change

The science behind climate change is clear: human activities are releasing large amounts of greenhouse gases, leading to a global average temperature increase of over 1°C since the late 19th century. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that we have just over a decade to take drastic action to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and avoid the most catastrophic consequences of climate change.

The Role of Technology in Achieving Net-Zero

Technology has a crucial role to play in achieving a net-zero future, from renewable energy and energy efficiency to carbon capture and storage. Solar and wind power, for example, are becoming increasingly cost-competitive with fossil fuels, while energy-efficient technologies like LED lighting and smart grids can significantly reduce energy consumption. Additionally, technologies like carbon capture and storage can reduce emissions from industrial sources, while electric vehicles can decarbonize transportation.

Renewable Energy Technologies

Renewable energy technologies, including solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal power, are becoming increasingly important in the transition to a low-carbon economy. These technologies can provide clean and reliable energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and create jobs and stimulate local economies. Governments and companies are investing heavily in renewable energy, with solar and wind power becoming increasingly cost-competitive with fossil fuels.

Energy Efficiency Technologies

Energy efficiency technologies, including smart grids, energy-efficient appliances, and building insulation, can significantly reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. These technologies can be applied in various sectors, including residential, commercial, and industrial, and can help reduce energy waste and improve energy productivity. Additionally, energy-efficient technologies can create jobs and stimulate local economies, while reducing energy costs for consumers.

Carbon Capture and Storage

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a technology that can reduce emissions from industrial sources, including power plants and cement factories. CCS involves capturing carbon dioxide emissions from these sources and storing them underground, preventing them from entering the atmosphere. While CCS is still a developing technology, it has the potential to play a crucial role in reducing emissions from hard-to-decarbonize sectors.

Carbon Capture Technologies

Carbon capture technologies, including post-combustion capture, pre-combustion capture, and oxyfuel combustion, can reduce emissions from industrial sources. These technologies can be applied to various sectors, including power generation, cement production, and steel manufacturing. However, CCS is still a developing technology, and significant investment and research are needed to reduce costs and improve efficiency.

Electric Vehicles and Transportation

Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular, with many countries investing heavily in EV infrastructure and incentives. EVs can decarbonize transportation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution in urban areas. Additionally, EVs can improve energy efficiency, reduce operating costs, and enhance the overall driving experience.

Charging Infrastructure

Charging infrastructure is critical to the widespread adoption of EVs, with governments and companies investing heavily in charging stations and networks. Fast-charging technologies, including DC fast charging and high-power charging, can charge EVs quickly and efficiently, reducing range anxiety and improving the overall driving experience.

Conclusion

In conclusion, technology has a crucial role to play in achieving a net-zero future, from renewable energy and energy efficiency to carbon capture and storage. By harnessing the power of technology, we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, transition to a low-carbon economy, and mitigate the effects of climate change. Governments, companies, and individuals must work together to invest in and develop these technologies, to ensure a sustainable and prosperous future for all.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the climate crisis, and why is it important?

The climate crisis refers to the current and projected state of the climate system, characterized by rising temperatures, melting ice caps, and extreme weather events. It’s essential to address the climate crisis to prevent catastrophic consequences, including sea-level rise, more frequent natural disasters, and devastating impacts on ecosystems and human societies.

What is net-zero, and how can we achieve it?

Net-zero refers to a state where human activities result in no net emissions of greenhouse gases, achieved by reducing emissions and offsetting any remaining emissions through carbon capture and storage or other technologies. We can achieve net-zero by transitioning to renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, and developing and deploying carbon capture and storage technologies.

What role can individuals play in addressing the climate crisis?

Individuals can play a crucial role in addressing the climate crisis by making conscious choices, including reducing energy consumption, using public transport or electric vehicles, and investing in renewable energy. Additionally, individuals can support climate policies, participate in climate activism, and educate others about the importance of addressing the climate crisis.

What are the benefits of transitioning to a low-carbon economy?

The benefits of transitioning to a low-carbon economy include reducing greenhouse gas emissions, creating jobs and stimulating local economies, and improving air quality and public health. Additionally, a low-carbon economy can reduce energy costs, improve energy security, and enhance the overall quality of life.

How can governments and companies support the development and deployment of climate technologies?

Governments and companies can support the development and deployment of climate technologies by investing in research and development, providing incentives and subsidies, and implementing policies and regulations that support the adoption of low-carbon technologies. Additionally, governments and companies can collaborate with each other, with civil society, and with individuals to raise awareness and build support for climate action.

Introduction to Green Data Centers

Seagate commissioned a survey and report based upon that survey on the role that digital storage can play in creating more sustainable and efficient data centers. This is particularly important as data centers scale up and new data centers are built to support AI-related businesses.

Survey Findings

The survey gathered responses from 330 data center professionals across 11 markets: Australia, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, North America, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. The report indicates that energy usage is now a top concern for 53.5% of business leaders. The press release quotes Goldman Sachs Research as forecasting that global power demand for data centers will increase by as much as 165% by 2030, compared with 2023.

Key Findings

Other key findings are:

• 94.5% of respondents reported increasing data storage needs, with 97% anticipating AI’s growth to further impact storage demand.
• Nearly 95% of respondents are concerned about environmental impact, but only 3.3% prioritize this in their purchasing decisions.
• Top barriers to driving sustainability at data centers are high energy consumption (53.5%), raw material requirements (49.5%), physical space constraints (45.5%), infrastructure costs (28.5%), and acquisition costs (27%)
• 92.2% acknowledge the importance of extending the life cycle of storage equipment, but only 15.5% consider it a top purchasing factor.

Creating Sustainable Data Centers

The full report goes into depth on how reducing the total cost of ownership and achieving sustainability goals can be achieved together. By using less power to store data, storage tiering with less frequently accessed data in less expensive and lower power storage technology, storage device life cycle extension and efficient space use in data centers costs can be controlled while using less energy and generating less greenhouse gases.

Embodied Carbon in Storage Media

Note that the carbon contribution for storage in data centers includes both the embedded carbon in manufacturing, shipping and assembling storage systems as well as the ongoing carbon generated by power generation to use the storage devices in storage systems. The comparison of Seagate’s estimates of the embedded carbon in SSDs versus HDDs and LTO tape shows a significant difference. SSDs and HDDs show a significant difference in the embodied carbon since the semiconductor manufacturing processes used to make the NAND flash die in SSDs take a lot of energy and resources, while HDDs require much less energy and carbon generating resources to manufacture.

Power Consumption of Storage Media

The report also contains a table on estimated operating power for SSDs, HDDs and LTO tape and an estimated power efficiency in W/TB. This table indicates that SSDs for data centers use over 50% more operating power per TB of storage capacity. The LTO tape in the table seems to indicate that it uses more power, but the table is showing the power consumed while writing and reading the tape. With magnetic tape in a tape library the tapes spend most of their time sitting idle in the library, so the actual average power efficiency of the magnetic tape would be much less.

Conclusion

Seagate’s commissioned survey and report indicates that there are ways that data centers can manage more stored data while reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by careful choices of digital storage in a storage hierarchy.

FAQs

Q: What is the main concern for business leaders in terms of data centers?
A: Energy usage is now a top concern for 53.5% of business leaders.
Q: How can data centers reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions?
A: By using less power to store data, storage tiering with less frequently accessed data in less expensive and lower power storage technology, storage device life cycle extension and efficient space use in data centers.
Q: What is the difference in embodied carbon between SSDs and HDDs?
A: SSDs show a significant difference in the embodied carbon since the semiconductor manufacturing processes used to make the NAND flash die in SSDs take a lot of energy and resources, while HDDs require much less energy and carbon generating resources to manufacture.