Chattanooga’s EPB is adding another innovative business to those it already provides. The utility was one of the first to get into telecommunications operations, and then one of the first to build a fiber optics network and offering a gig of service. At the board meeting Friday morning, adding a quantum computer to the existing quantum technology infrastructure. was approved. “No other utility is moving into this space,” said EPB CEO David Wade. A quantum computer is capable of solving complex problems faster than classical computers. Now, primarily labs and universities are where there is growth in this technology. EPB has positioned itself with networking and created relationships over the past two years that allow the utility to put this together, he said.
In 2023 EPB launched its quantum network and the investment has already more than paid for itself. The quantum computer will be developed with a partnership between EPB and IonQ, a company that is a global leader in the technology. The cost will be $22 million and includes training, maintenance and developing applications. It is expected to come online in early 2026, and at that time, EPB will start selling hours on the quantum computer. This is a stand- alone investment, said Mr. Wade. There are less than 200 quantum computers in existence today and when it is online, there will be a large customer base and global access to sell the time over the cloud.
An EPB Quantum Center will be established in Chattanooga that will be a comprehensive resource for quantum application development, including computing, networking, application development, support and training. That will further establish Chattanooga as a catalyst in Tennessee’s innovation in the field, and drive long-term economic growth for the city.
Since the system went live in 2023 EPB has overcome skepticism about the use of quantum technology and has been building credibility. UTC now has a quantum center. It is analogous to our fiber investment, said Mr. Wade, which sold enough to pay for itself in the first two years. He told the board that he is confident that enough hours will be sold on the quantum computer to pay back the cost in less than three years.
Over time, the electric side of the utility will be affected, said EPB President Ryan Keel .Two of the ways will be to improve cyber security and to be able to manage complex problems and process data faster on the electric grid operations and that will enhance outage prediction. The quantum computer will be able to process many options for routing power simultaneously as opposed to one route at a time that classical computers can process. This will provide better operational efficiency. And will best utilize unpredictable power generation such as wind and solar, in tandem with local energy storage. Some of the other ways that the quantum computer will be used are unexpected, said Mr. Wade. He has seen interest in companies that maintain heavy equipment and in the logistics of routing the equipment. It can also be used in the medical, pharmaceutical, entertainment spaces and logistics for airports and airlines. “We can’t even imagine all that it will be used for,” said Board Member Jon Kinsey.
The motion for EPB to move forward with the quantum computer passed unanimously.