Quantum machine learning early opportunities for the energy industry: a scoping review

Quantum computing innovations have garnered significant attention for their potential to revolutionize industries, with the energy sector being one of the most promising areas for application. As global energy demand increases and sustainability becomes more critical, computational technologies offer groundbreaking solutions for energy production, storage, and distribution. In this landscape, quantum computing plays a crucial role in unlocking the full potential of artificial intelligence and machine learning as research and development in the quantum machine learning field grows constantly. We here present a scoping review of early quantum machine learning applications within the energy industry value chain. Starting from 34 sources, we analyze and discuss 22 use cases in the energy sector, thoroughly examining each to understand its potential applications and impact. We then evaluate these early-stage quantum applications to determine their feasibility and benefits, offering insights into their relevance and effectiveness in the context of the industry’s evolving landscape. This is done by introducing a novel framework: the Assessment Model for Innovation Management (AMIM). Our research highlights the opportunities that quantum innovations present for the energy sector and offers actionable insights into which applications are the best investments and why. Overall, the feasibility and technological maturity of quantum machine learning use cases are still in the early stages, though their market compatibility and potential benefits are mostly relatively high. This indicates that while quantum machine learning holds immense potential, further development is necessary to fully realize its benefits in the energy sector.