Case study: Quantum technologies & sensing — a leading organization's implementation and lessons learned

The quantum sensing market reached an estimated $377–609 million in 2024 and is projected to grow at 12–25% CAGR to exceed $1.2 billion by 2032, according to Fortune Business Insights and Precedence Research. More significantly, McKinsey projects that quantum computing applications for sustainability could eliminate over 7 gigatons of CO₂ equivalent annually by 2035—representing nearly 15% of current global emissions. These numbers reflect a fundamental shift: quantum technologies are no longer confined to research laboratories. Organizations from NASA to Saudi Aramco are deploying quantum sensors and quantum-inspired algorithms to address climate monitoring, carbon capture optimization, and environmental measurement challenges that classical systems cannot solve with sufficient precision.

This case study examines how leading organizations have implemented quantum sensing technologies for sustainability applications, analyzing the KPIs that matter, the benchmarks that define success, and the lessons learned from both successful deployments and instructive failures.

Why It Matters

Quantum sensing leverages fundamental quantum mechanical phenomena—superposition, entanglement, and quantum interference—to achieve measurement sensitivities orders of magnitude beyond classical instruments. For sustainability applications, this translates to transformative capabilities across three critical domains.

First, environmental monitoring precision has reached unprecedented levels. Quantum gravimeters can detect changes in subsurface water mass equivalent to centimeters of water table movement across regions, enabling real-time groundwater depletion tracking that was previously impossible. The European Space Agency's CARIOQA project, funded at €17 million, is developing quantum gravimeters for space-based climate monitoring that will track ice sheet mass changes, ocean circulation shifts, and groundwater dynamics with 10× greater sensitivity than current satellite systems (ESA Climate Office, 2024).

Second, carbon measurement accuracy has become a regulatory imperative. As mandatory climate disclosure frameworks like the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and SEC climate rules take effect, organizations need measurement systems that can detect trace greenhouse gas concentrations with sufficient accuracy to satisfy verification requirements. Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT) reports achieving approximately 2× improvement in air pollution measurement accuracy using quantum-enhanced sensing algorithms compared to classical methods.

Third, the economics of climate action depend on measurement precision. Carbon markets require accurate, verifiable emissions data. Nature-based solutions require soil carbon monitoring with sub-percentage-point accuracy. Industrial decarbonization requires real-time emissions monitoring that can attribute changes to specific process interventions. Quantum sensing addresses the measurement gap that has historically undermined confidence in carbon accounting and climate finance.

Key Concepts

Understanding quantum sensing for sustainability requires familiarity with several foundational technologies and their applications.

Cold-atom interferometry forms the basis of the most advanced quantum gravimeters and accelerometers. Atoms are cooled to near absolute zero using laser trapping, then allowed to fall in a controlled environment. The quantum wave nature of these atoms creates interference patterns that encode gravitational field information with extreme precision. Infleqtion's Exaqt gravimeter uses ultra-cold rubidium atoms to achieve drift-free absolute measurements that eliminate the recalibration requirements of classical spring gravimeters.

Nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center sensors exploit defects in diamond crystal lattices that act as quantum bits sensitive to magnetic fields, electric fields, temperature, and pressure. For environmental monitoring, NV sensors can detect minute pH changes in ocean water—critical for tracking ocean acidification—and identify trace pollutants in soil and water samples at parts-per-trillion concentrations.

Quantum-enhanced magnetometry enables GPS-independent navigation by mapping Earth's crustal magnetic field with sufficient resolution to determine position within meters. SandboxAQ's AQNav system combines quantum magnetometers with AI algorithms to provide navigation for aircraft, ships, and autonomous vehicles in GPS-denied environments—addressing resilience requirements for critical infrastructure while reducing dependence on satellite systems.

Large Quantitative Models (LQMs) represent the fusion of quantum-inspired algorithms with AI. Unlike quantum computers that require fault-tolerant hardware still years from commercial deployment, LQMs run on classical hardware while using quantum mechanical simulation principles to model molecular interactions. This enables materials discovery—including carbon capture sorbents, battery chemistries, and sustainable polymers—at computational scales previously impossible.

What's Working

Satellite-Based Quantum Gravity Monitoring

NASA's Quantum Gravity Gradiometer Pathfinder (QGGPf) program, developed in collaboration with Infleqtion, AOSense, and Vector Atomic, represents the most ambitious quantum sensing project for climate applications. Targeted for launch by 2029–2030, the mission will deploy atom interferometry sensors with 10× greater sensitivity than the current GRACE-FO satellites. The system will track gravitational field changes caused by glacier melting, groundwater extraction, and tectonic motion with unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution.

The technical specifications are compelling: the sensor occupies only 0.25 cubic meters and weighs 125 kg—dramatically more compact than earlier conceptual designs. Ground-based testing has demonstrated sensitivity sufficient to detect water mass changes equivalent to 1 cm of water across a 100 km² region. For climate science, this means distinguishing seasonal aquifer recharge from long-term depletion, identifying illegal groundwater extraction, and improving sea-level rise projections by precisely tracking ice sheet mass loss.

Industrial Carbon Capture Optimization

Saudi Aramco's partnership with SandboxAQ demonstrates quantum-inspired AI for carbon utilization at industrial scale. Using Large Quantitative Models, the collaboration aims to identify catalysts that convert captured CO₂ into profitable chemicals and fuels—transforming an emissions liability into a revenue stream. The molecular simulation capabilities enable screening of catalyst candidates at rates impossible with physical testing, accelerating discovery timelines from years to months.

IBM's collaboration with the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and the University of Kentucky similarly applies quantum algorithms to carbon capture polymer membrane design. By simulating molecular interactions at the quantum level, researchers can optimize CO₂ selectivity and permeability trade-offs that determine capture efficiency. Early results suggest potential for 30–40% improvement in membrane performance compared to conventionally-designed materials.

Quantum-Enhanced Environmental Monitoring Networks

Q-CTRL's partnership with the Australian National University and Transparent Earth Geophysics has demonstrated airborne quantum gravimetry for mineral exploration and water monitoring. The AUD 2.8 million project completed flight testing in 2024, proving that quantum gravimeters can operate in field conditions—a critical milestone for environmental applications that require portable, deployable systems rather than laboratory instruments.

For sustainability applications, airborne quantum gravimetry enables rapid survey of groundwater resources across drought-affected regions, monitoring of subsidence from resource extraction, and detection of underground infrastructure integrity issues before they become environmental hazards.

What's Not Working

Commercial Readiness Gaps

Despite technological progress, quantum sensing remains expensive and complex. According to QED-C's 2024 market analysis, 35% of quantum sensing companies report zero revenue, indicating the industry is still in pre-commercial stages for many applications. The equipment costs, specialized expertise requirements, and integration challenges limit adoption to well-funded research institutions and large enterprises.

Space-based quantum sensors, while transformative for climate science, remain 10–15 years from operational deployment. Organizations planning quantum-enhanced monitoring strategies must bridge this gap with hybrid classical-quantum approaches or quantum-inspired algorithms that run on available hardware.

Environmental Sensitivity Paradoxes

Quantum sensors' extreme sensitivity—their greatest strength—creates operational challenges. Vibration, temperature fluctuations, and electromagnetic interference can overwhelm the quantum signals being measured. Infleqtion notes that their quantum navigation systems require sophisticated AI filtering to extract useful information from noisy real-world environments.

For field deployments, this means quantum gravimeters work well in stable conditions but struggle with the vibration environments typical of aircraft, vehicles, or marine platforms. Significant engineering effort goes into isolation systems and signal processing rather than the quantum sensing itself.

Supply Chain and Expertise Constraints

Quantum sensors require specialized materials (ultra-pure rubidium, synthetic diamonds with controlled defects), precision manufacturing (vacuum systems, laser optics), and deep expertise (atomic physics, quantum control). The talent pool remains limited, and supply chains are fragmented—particularly for organizations outside North America and Europe. Asia-Pacific markets, despite strong growth potential, face challenges accessing the specialized components and expertise required for quantum sensor deployment.

Key Players

Established Leaders

IBM Quantum operates the largest fleet of quantum computers accessible via cloud services and has established partnerships with Vodafone, ExxonMobil, and research institutions for sustainability applications. Their quantum-classical hybrid approaches enable organizations to begin quantum experimentation without massive capital investment.

Infleqtion (formerly ColdQuanta) leads in cold-atom quantum sensing, with products spanning atomic clocks, quantum gravimeters (Exaqt), and quantum computing platforms. Their NASA partnership for space-based gravity sensing positions them at the forefront of climate monitoring applications.

SandboxAQ combines quantum sensing with AI, offering commercially-available Large Quantitative Models and quantum navigation systems. Valued at approximately $5.75 billion following their April 2025 funding round, they represent the best-funded pure-play quantum AI company.

Honeywell Quantinuum (formed from Honeywell Quantum Solutions and Cambridge Quantum) provides trapped-ion quantum computers and quantum software, with applications in materials science and chemistry simulation relevant to sustainable materials development.

Emerging Startups

Q-CTRL provides quantum control infrastructure software that improves quantum sensor performance through AI-driven noise suppression. Their partnerships with defense and resources organizations demonstrate commercial traction for quantum-enhanced sensing.

Pasqal develops neutral-atom quantum computers with notably lower energy consumption per qubit than superconducting alternatives, addressing sustainability concerns about quantum computing's own carbon footprint.

ORCA Computing builds room-temperature photonic quantum systems that eliminate the extreme cooling requirements of superconducting quantum computers, reducing operational energy requirements and deployment complexity.

Key Investors and Funders

Breakthrough Energy Ventures (Bill Gates' climate-focused fund) has invested in quantum computing companies with climate applications, including IonQ.

U.S. National Quantum Initiative has authorized $2.7 billion over five years for quantum research, including sensing applications for climate and environment.

European Quantum Flagship has allocated €1 billion for quantum technology development, with specific programs for quantum sensors targeting Earth observation.

In-Q-Tel (CIA's venture arm) invests in quantum sensing for national security applications, often with dual-use potential for environmental monitoring.

Sector-Specific KPIs

Metric	Classical Baseline	Quantum-Enhanced Target	Application Context
Gravity Sensitivity	10⁻⁸ m/s²	10⁻⁹ to 10⁻¹⁰ m/s²	Groundwater monitoring, ice sheet tracking
CO₂ Detection Limit	1 ppm	<0.1 ppm	Industrial emissions verification
Sensor Drift	1–5% per month	<0.1% per year	Long-term environmental monitoring
Navigation Accuracy (GPS-denied)	>100 m error/hour	<10 m error/hour	Critical infrastructure resilience
Molecular Simulation Scale	50–100 atoms	500+ atoms	Carbon capture materials design
Measurement Frequency	Daily/weekly	Real-time continuous	Emissions monitoring, leak detection

Examples

Example 1: NASA JPL Quantum Gravity Gradiometer Pathfinder

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in collaboration with Infleqtion, AOSense, and Vector Atomic, is developing the first space-based quantum gravity sensor for Earth observation. The Quantum Gravity Gradiometer Pathfinder (QGGPf) will use atom interferometry to map gravitational field variations caused by water mass redistribution—glacier melting, groundwater depletion, and ocean circulation changes. The sensor's 10× improvement in sensitivity over GRACE-FO satellites will enable differentiation between seasonal variations and long-term climate trends. Targeted for launch by 2029–2030, the compact 125 kg instrument demonstrates that quantum sensors have matured from laboratory curiosities to spaceflight-ready systems. The primary lesson: quantum sensing programs require 5–10 year development horizons but deliver step-change capability improvements when deployed.

Example 2: SandboxAQ and Saudi Aramco CO₂ Conversion

SandboxAQ's partnership with Saudi Aramco applies Large Quantitative Models to identify catalysts for converting captured CO₂ into valuable chemicals and synthetic fuels. Using quantum-inspired molecular simulation running on classical hardware, the collaboration screens catalyst candidates at computational scales impossible with traditional methods. The goal is converting millions of tonnes of CO₂ annually from liability to revenue stream—a circular carbon economy enabled by quantum-enhanced materials discovery. The partnership also develops differentiable computational fluid dynamics solvers for oil and gas processing optimization, reducing operational emissions. Key lesson: organizations can access quantum-level computational benefits today through quantum-inspired algorithms without waiting for fault-tolerant quantum computers.

Example 3: Q-CTRL Airborne Quantum Gravimetry in Australia

Q-CTRL partnered with Transparent Earth Geophysics and the Australian National University on an AUD 2.8 million project to demonstrate airborne quantum gravimetry for mineral exploration and water monitoring. The 2024 flight trials proved that quantum gravimeters can operate outside laboratory conditions—detecting gravity variations from aircraft platforms despite vibration and movement challenges. For environmental applications, this enables rapid survey of groundwater resources across drought-affected regions, monitoring of aquifer depletion rates, and assessment of subsurface water infrastructure. The lesson: successful quantum sensing deployment requires as much innovation in vibration isolation and signal processing as in quantum physics itself.

Action Checklist

• Assess measurement precision gaps in current environmental monitoring systems—identify where quantum sensing's 10–100× sensitivity improvements would enable new capabilities or meet emerging regulatory requirements
• Evaluate quantum-inspired algorithms (LQMs) for materials discovery applications—these run on classical hardware today and can accelerate sustainable materials development without quantum computer access
• Develop quantum workforce capabilities through partnerships with universities operating quantum sensing research programs or cloud-based quantum platforms from IBM, Amazon Braket, or Microsoft Azure Quantum
• Establish pilot programs with quantum sensing companies for specific high-value applications—groundwater monitoring, emissions verification, or navigation resilience—rather than broad quantum initiatives
• Monitor space-based quantum sensor development timelines (NASA QGGPf, ESA CARIOQA) for integration opportunities with organizational climate monitoring strategies
• Build hybrid measurement systems that combine quantum and classical sensors, using AI to fuse data sources and provide redundancy during quantum technology maturation

FAQ

Q: When will quantum sensors be commercially available for environmental monitoring? A: Ground-based quantum gravimeters and atomic clocks are commercially available now from companies like Infleqtion, Exail Quantum Sensors, and Q-CTRL partners. However, ruggedized field-deployable systems and space-based sensors remain 5–15 years from widespread operational deployment. Organizations should focus on quantum-inspired algorithms and cloud-based quantum services for near-term applications while monitoring hardware development for strategic planning.

Q: How do quantum sensors compare to classical environmental monitoring systems in cost? A: Quantum sensors currently cost 10–100× more than comparable classical instruments, with quantum gravimeters priced in the $500,000–$2 million range versus $50,000–$200,000 for classical spring gravimeters. However, quantum sensors' drift-free operation, reduced calibration requirements, and superior sensitivity can reduce lifecycle costs for long-term monitoring programs. Cost reduction follows typical technology curves—expect 50–70% price reductions over the next decade as manufacturing scales.

Q: What expertise is required to deploy quantum sensing systems? A: Initial deployment requires collaboration with quantum physics specialists—typically through partnerships with quantum sensing companies or university research groups. Operational systems increasingly incorporate AI-driven automation that reduces expertise requirements for routine use. Organizations should plan for 2–3 year learning curves when building internal quantum sensing capabilities.

Q: Can quantum technologies address their own carbon footprint concerns? A: Superconducting quantum computers and some quantum sensors require near-absolute-zero cooling with significant energy consumption. However, emerging technologies—ORCA Computing's room-temperature photonic systems, Pasqal's low-power neutral-atom platforms—address these concerns. The net climate impact is overwhelmingly positive: McKinsey estimates quantum computing could eliminate 7+ gigatons of CO₂ annually by 2035, far exceeding the technology's operational emissions.

Q: How should organizations prepare for mandatory quantum-enhanced climate verification? A: While no regulations currently mandate quantum sensing, the precision requirements in emerging climate disclosure frameworks (CSRD, SEC climate rules, ISSB standards) increasingly align with quantum sensor capabilities. Organizations should establish baseline measurement systems that can integrate quantum sensors as they mature, ensuring data continuity and audit trails that satisfy evolving verification requirements.

Sources

• Fortune Business Insights. "Quantum Sensors Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis." 2024. Reports market size of $377.3 million in 2024, growing to $1.21 billion by 2032 at 15.8% CAGR.
• McKinsey & Company. "How quantum computing can help tackle global warming." 2024. Projects 7+ gigatons CO₂ reduction potential by 2035 through quantum-enabled climate applications.
• NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. "NASA Aims to Fly First Quantum Sensor for Gravity Measurements." April 2025. Describes QGGPf mission specifications and 2029–2030 launch timeline.
• European Space Agency Climate Office. "Taking climate monitoring into the future with quantum." 2024. Details CARIOQA project and €17 million funding for space-based quantum gravimeter development.
• QED-C (Quantum Economic Development Consortium). "2025 Market Forecast: Quantum Sensing." 2025. Reports 35% of quantum sensing companies with no current revenue, indicating pre-commercial market stage.
• SandboxAQ. "Saudi Aramco Partners with SandboxAQ on Quantum AI for CO₂ Conversion." 2025. Describes Large Quantitative Model applications for carbon utilization and catalyst discovery.
• Infleqtion. "NASA Partnership for Quantum Gravity Gradiometer Pathfinder." 2024. Technical specifications for cold-atom interferometry sensors and environmental monitoring applications.
• U.S. Department of Transportation. "Quantum Technologies in Transportation Workshop Report." November 2024. Outlines quantum sensing applications for infrastructure monitoring and methane leak detection.