Quandela, EDF Partner on Photonic Quantum Computing For Hydroelectric Dam Structure Simulation

Valvestino Dam in Italy. Hydroelectric power plant.
Valvestino Dam in Italy. Hydroelectric power plant.
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Insider Brief

  • Quandela and EDF agreed to study the use of photonic computing can  in numerical simulations of hydroelectric dam deformation.
  • The technology could increase the accuracy of the simulations, speed up the calculations and reduce the energy consumption of the same calculations.
  • Longer term, the ambition is to generalize the simulation models to other types of industrial applications and to extend photonic calculation to Machine Learning used in particular in consumption forecasting.

PRESS RELEASE — French start-up Quandela and leading French energy company EDF have signed a partnership agreement to study the contribution of photonic computing to numerical simulations of hydroelectric dam deformation. The use of this breakthrough technology could increase the accuracy of the simulations, speed up the calculations and reduce the energy consumption of the same calculations. In the longer term, the ambition is to generalize the simulation models to other types of industrial applications and to extend photonic calculation to Machine Learning used in particular in consumption forecasting.

EDF was one of the first French industrial players to invest in quantum technologies. This was done in 2018, with a mindset of improving computing performance for energy management and supporting French and European players. It is in this context that EDF and Quandela, the European leader in photonic quantum computing, began their collaboration very early on, and this partnership marks a new stage.

Today Quandela counts many expert theoreticians, engineers, and programmers in its teams – a unique model that allows us to meet the challenges of leading industrial players such as EDF.

“This partnership enables us to apply the knowledge of our engineers to industrial issues. EDF and Quandela are perfectly complementary. We put our expertise in differential equation solving and algorithm development as well as our first full-stack photonic quantum computers at EDF’s disposal. In return, we benefit from the knowledge and expertise acquired by EDF’s R&D teams for decades” says Valérian Giesz, co-founder and CEO of Quandela.

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“EDF is an innovative company. Our R&D has almost 2000 employees worldwide and was born at the same time as the company. We started investing in quantum technologies 4 years ago now. A partnership with Quandela, which we know well and whose technology is the result of 20 years of research at the CNRS, seemed obvious. EDF has been interested in simulation for 40 years: the calculations and equations developed are the result of decades of research and effort. Quandela’s know-how, complementary to ours, allows us to form a rich and solid partnership to continue to advance on these subjects” adds Stéphane Tanguy, Director of Information Systems and Technologies at EDF R&D.

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Matt Swayne

With a several-decades long background in journalism and communications, Matt Swayne has worked as a science communicator for an R1 university for more than 12 years, specializing in translating high tech and deep tech for the general audience. He has served as a writer, editor and analyst at The Quantum Insider since its inception. In addition to his service as a science communicator, Matt also develops courses to improve the media and communications skills of scientists and has taught courses. [email protected]

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