A Hybrid Quantum Algorithm for Load Flow

Abstract: The goal of the load flow study is to ensure that electrical power is delivered efficiently and reliably to end-users while maintaining the stability and security of the power system. Newton-Raphson is a numerical method used widely for load flow analysis. One of the most computationally expensive steps in this method is an equation-solving step. We propose to replace this step with HHL, a quantum algorithm for solving linear systems of equations. HHL is exponentially faster, but with caveats. In this study, a hybrid quantum algorithm is proposed for solving load flow. The Newton-Raphson method is used as a benchmark to compare the performance of the hybrid quantum algorithm. Although the simulation of the hybrid quantum algorithm takes much time, these preliminary results are encouraging and point to the potential for the use of quantum algorithms to develop hybrid quantum algorithms for load flow analysis and related problems.