BP has joined the IBM Quantum Network to advance the use of quantum ‎computing in the energy industry.‎‎ ‎

By joining the IBM Quantum Network™ as an Industry Partner, BP will have access to IBM’s ‎quantum expertise and software and cloud-based access to the most advanced quantum ‎computers available via the cloud. This includes access to a premium 65-qubit quantum ‎computer, the largest universal quantum system available to industry today, and an important ‎milestone on the IBM Quantum roadmap to a 1,000-plus qubit system, targeted for the end of ‎‎2023.‎

BP will work with IBM to explore using quantum computing to solve business and engineering ‎challenges and explore the potential applications for driving efficiencies and reducing carbon ‎emissions.

‎‎“BP’s ambition is to become a net zero company by 2050 or sooner and help the world get to ‎net zero. Next-generation computing capabilities such as quantum computing will assist in ‎solving the science and engineering challenges we will face, enabling us to reimagine energy ‎and design new lower carbon products,” said Morag Watson, senior vice president, digital ‎science and engineering for BP.‎‎

‎Quantum computing has the potential to be applied in areas such as: modelling the chemistry ‎and build-up of various types of clay in hydrocarbon wells – a crucial factor in efficient ‎hydrocarbon production; analyzing and managing the fluid dynamics of wind farms; optimizing ‎autonomous robotic facility inspection; and helping create opportunities not yet imagined to ‎deliver the clean energy the world wants and needs.‎‎

‎‎“Next-generation computing capabilities such as quantum computing will assist in ‎solving the science and engineering challenges we will face, enabling us to reimagine energy ‎and design new lower carbon products.” Morag Watson, senior vice president, digital ‎science and engineering, BP

In 2020, BP announced its net zero ambition and its new strategy. By the end of this decade, it ‎aims to have developed around 50 gigawatts of net renewable-generating capacity (a 20-fold ‎increase), increased annual low carbon investment 10-fold to around $5 billion and cut its oil ‎and gas production by 40%.‎‎

‎Joining the IBM Quantum Network will enhance BP’s ability to leverage quantum advances ‎and applications as they emerge and then influence on how those breakthroughs can be ‎applied to its industry and the energy transition.‎‎

‎‎”BP joins a rapidly growing number of clients working with IBM to explore quantum computing to ‎help accelerate the discovery of solutions to some of today’s biggest challenges,” added Dario Gil, ‎Senior Vice President and Director of IBM Research. “The energy industry is ripe with opportunities ‎to see value from the use of quantum computing through the discovery of new materials designed ‎to improve the generation, transfer, and storage of energy.”‎

BP joins more than 130 members of the IBM Quantum Network, a global community of ‎Fortune 500 companies, start-ups, academic institutions and research labs working to advance ‎quantum computing and explore practical applications. Together, members of the Network ‎and IBM Quantum teams are researching and exploring how quantum computing will help a ‎variety of industries and disciplines, including finance, energy, chemistry, materials science, ‎optimization and machine learning, among many others.