Insider Brief
- A new white paper from JIJ Inc., ORCA Computing, bp and the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre shows that hybrid quantum-classical workflows can address industrially relevant energy scheduling problems and may eventually outperform leading classical optimization methods.
- The study applied JIJ’s optimization software and ORCA Computing’s photonic quantum hardware to the Unit Commitment Problem, a complex task involving the cost-effective scheduling of power generation while maintaining reliability and managing emissions in increasingly dynamic electricity systems.
- The collaboration highlights growing UK-Japan cooperation in quantum technologies and emphasizes responsible innovation by clearly distinguishing measured benchmark results from future performance projections and outlining both the opportunities and current limitations of quantum computing.
- Image: Photo by Matthew Henry on Unsplash
PRESS RELEASE — JIJ Inc. and ORCA Computing, in collaboration with bp and the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC), today released a white paper demonstrating that hybrid quantum–classical optimisation is moving closer to commercial relevance for one of the energy sector’s most complex operational challenges.
The full white paper, “Benchmarking Hybrid Approaches to the Unit Commitment Problem”, is available here.
The study benchmarks a hybrid quantum-classical approach to the Unit Commitment Problem (UCP), the large-scale optimisation task of determining how and when power plants should operate to meet energy demand at the lowest cost while maintaining system reliability. The results suggest that hybrid quantum-classical optimisation is moving beyond proof-of-concept and towards practical industrial application in energy systems.
A High-Impact Industrial Challenge
The Unit Commitment Problem is one of the energy sector’s most complex and economically significant optimisation challenges, involving the scheduling of generation assets to meet electricity demand at the lowest possible cost while maintaining system reliability and managing emissions. As power systems incorporate increasing levels of variable renewable generation and electricity demand continues to grow, including from energy-intensive AI data centres, the scale and computational complexity of the problem are increasing significantly. More advanced optimisation capabilities will be critical to reducing costs and enabling more resilient, efficient, and lower-carbon energy systems.
Full-Stack Benchmark on Commercial Quantum Hardware
The collaboration combined JIJ’s industrial optimisation software with ORCA Computing’s photonic quantum systems to benchmark a complete workflow for solving large-scale industrial optimisation problems. Using industrially relevant datasets rather than simplified models, the study focuses on transparent benchmarking, methodological rigour and clearly defined assumptions around future hardware performance. The resulting white paper provides one of the most comprehensive publicly available assessments of how quantum computing may deliver practical value in real-world energy optimisation challenges.
Strengthening UK–Japan Quantum Collaboration in Quantum Technologies
The project highlights growing cooperation between the UK and Japan in quantum technologies. JIJ, headquartered in Japan, and ORCA Computing, based in the UK, brought together complementary software and hardware capabilities to address a commercially significant industrial challenge. The collaboration aligns with the UK–Japan Memorandum of Cooperation on Quantum Science and Technology and builds on partnerships involving the NQCC, Japan’s Global Research and Development Centre for Business by Quantum-AI Technology (G-QuAT) at AIST, and the UK’s National Physical Laboratory.
Responsible Quantum Innovation
The white paper was developed in line with the principles of the Responsible Quantum Industry Forum (RQIF), convened by the National Quantum Computing Centre with UKQuantum and techUK as industry co-chairs. The RQIF has established a shared framework for the responsible development and use of quantum technologies, centred on transparency and explainability, safety and reliability, privacy and security, fairness and inclusivity, and accountability. In line with these principles, the white paper clearly distinguishes measured benchmark results from forward-looking projections and presents both the opportunities and limitations of current quantum systems. This approach is intended to support informed decision-making and build confidence in the responsible commercial adoption of quantum technologies.
Executive Comments
“For quantum computing to create real industrial value, it must be evaluated on the kinds of optimisation problems that companies actually face,” said Yu Yamashiro, CEO at JIJ Inc. “This work with ORCA Computing, bp and the NQCC combines industrially relevant energy scheduling problems, commercial quantum hardware and rigorous hybrid optimisation workflows, providing a concrete benchmark for understanding where quantum computing may deliver value in large-scale energy optimisation.”
“As energy systems become more dynamic and computationally complex, collaborations like this are critical to exploring where hybrid quantum–classical approaches can provide practical value,” said William Clements, Head of Applications and Software at ORCA Computing. “By bringing together the expertise of JIJ, bp, the NQCC and ORCA Computing, this work helps evaluate industrially relevant optimisation challenges and advance our understanding of how quantum computing could deliver practical value in large-scale operational environments.”
“Our work with JIJ, bp and ORCA Computing demonstrates how effective collaboration can advance our understanding of what may be possible with quantum computing,” said Dr Konstantinos Georgopoulos, Quantum Applications Team Lead at the National Quantum Computing Centre. “By focusing on a highly impactful and real-world use case, the team has provided valuable insights into a potential pathway towards practical quantum computing applications in the energy sector.”
