Author: Shunlongwei Co., Ltd. Market Research Team
Published: October 2025
When Google announced its new Willow quantum chip this October, most headlines focused on its potential to outperform today’s supercomputers. But behind the excitement lies a quieter question few people ask: How do you actually provide stable, reliable power to a quantum computer? And what does this mean for the future of power electronics like IGBT modules?
The Hidden Cost of Computation: Energy Demand Rises
Quantum computing promises exponential gains in processing power by harnessing quantum bits—or qubits—that can exist in multiple states simultaneously. However, maintaining those delicate states requires extreme conditions: cryogenic cooling, high-frequency control electronics, and ultra-stable power delivery. Each of these subsystems consumes significant energy.
As IEA research notes, global data-center electricity use already accounts for more than 2% of total demand. With AI workloads and emerging quantum systems joining the mix, that figure could double by 2030. In other words, the “intelligent” world is also becoming an energy-intensive one.
From AI to Quantum: The Common Thirst for Clean, Stable Power
Artificial intelligence and quantum computing share a common trait: both are hungry for clean, stable power. AI data centers rely on vast clusters of GPUs and TPUs, while quantum processors require low-noise analog control circuits and precision timing. Whether it’s a 10-MW AI cluster or a 100-kW quantum testbed, power efficiency is no longer an afterthought—it’s a core bottleneck.
That’s where IGBT modules quietly play a pivotal role. Acting as the “High-Efficiency Power Manager” in electrical systems, they bridge high-voltage DC systems and finely tuned AC power rails, ensuring minimal switching losses and stable current flow across critical subsystems.
Why Quantum Systems Need Advanced Power Electronics More Than Ever
Quantum computers operate in delicate balance. Any voltage fluctuation or heat surge can disrupt the fragile quantum states. The supporting infrastructure—cryostats, RF generators, and magnetic control units—demands high-efficiency power converters that deliver precise voltage and current at all times.
- Stable Power Conversion: Quantum-control hardware often runs at frequencies requiring rapid, low-noise switching. IGBTs provide the efficiency and current capacity needed to keep power rails steady.
- Thermal Management: Even small inefficiencies translate to excess heat in cryogenic environments. Optimized IGBT designs reduce thermal stress and maintain reliability.
- Scalability: As quantum processors grow from dozens to thousands of qubits, power distribution systems must scale accordingly. Modular IGBT architectures simplify that growth.
The Energy Behind “Intelligence”: An Inseparable Link
Google’s recent quantum chip reveal is more than a milestone in computation—it’s a reminder that information and energy are inseparable. Every AI inference, every qubit operation, ultimately depends on electrons flowing through power-conversion hardware.
According to McKinsey’s projections, AI and high-performance computing could drive an additional 300 TWh of annual electricity demand by 2030. Power electronics—including IGBTs, MOSFETs, and SiC devices—will form the invisible backbone of this massive expansion.
IGBTs: The Bridge Between Digital Intelligence and Physical Power
At the heart of nearly every efficient power system sits the insulated-gate bipolar transistor, or IGBT. By combining the high-voltage capacity of a bipolar transistor with the fast switching of a MOSFET, IGBTs offer the perfect balance for large-scale compute facilities, UPS systems, and precision instrumentation.
In quantum computing and AI data centers, IGBT modules help manage:
- DC-AC conversion for cryogenic compressors and vacuum pumps.
- Power-factor correction (PFC) in data-center supply networks.
- Pulse control for high-frequency electromagnetic drivers.
For engineers interested in deeper device-level behavior, the article Deconstructing the IGBT provides a good foundation.
SiC, GaN, and the Path Forward
As semiconductor technologies evolve, Silicon-Carbide (SiC) and Gallium-Nitride (GaN) devices are often seen as the successors to traditional silicon IGBTs. However, in high-power, cost-sensitive applications—such as the infrastructure supporting AI and quantum clusters—IGBTs remain unmatched in reliability and availability.
Future systems will likely use hybrid configurations: SiC for ultra-high-frequency control and IGBT modules for bulk energy conversion. This multi-layered approach mirrors trends already visible in EV fast-charging platforms and industrial drives.
Building a Sustainable Compute Future
Meeting the power demands of AI and quantum computing will require a holistic approach: combining renewable energy, smarter grids, and highly efficient power electronics. Governments and corporations alike are investing in green data centers and carbon-neutral supercomputing facilities. Yet the smallest details—like switching efficiency inside an IGBT module—still determine how sustainable those visions truly are.
According to IEEE studies, optimizing power-conversion efficiency by even 1% across global compute infrastructures could save terawatt-hours of electricity annually. This is where engineering precision meets environmental responsibility.
Conclusion: The Unsung Pillar
Quantum computing may redefine the boundaries of information processing, but its success depends on something deeply physical: electricity, precision, and control. The unsung heroes enabling that are not just quantum physicists but also power-electronics engineers designing IGBT modules that quietly keep the world’s most advanced systems running.
As we enter this new era of intelligent machines and quantum breakthroughs, the power backbone—efficient, reliable, and engineered to perfection—will determine how far we can go.