High-perÂforÂmance comÂpuÂting (HPC) has become an important method in many sciÂenÂtiÂfic fields, such as drug and cliÂmate reseÂarch. HoweÂver, the data cenÂtres with energy-intenÂsive superÂcomÂpuÂters release quite a bit of CO2. “Energy-optiÂmiÂsed superÂcomÂpuÂter netÂworks through the use of wind energy” (ESN4NW): Behind this title is a new, natiÂonÂwide joint proÂject led by the SICP — SoftÂware InnoÂvaÂtion CamÂpus PaderÂborn at the UniÂverÂsity of PaderÂborn. In coopeÂraÂtion with the SICP memÂber comÂpany WestÂfaÂlenÂWIND IT and their brand windÂCORES, the idea was born to deveÂlop a new HPC infraÂstrucÂture with a susÂtainable conÂcept. The FedeÂral MinisÂtry of EduÂcaÂtion and ReseÂarch (BMBF) is now funÂding the proÂject for the next three years with around 2.5 milÂlion euros. The conÂsorÂtium also includes the UniÂverÂsity of PasÂsau, the FraunÂhoÂfer InstiÂtute for ReliaÂbiÂlity and MicroÂinÂteÂgraÂtion IZM and the comÂpaÂnies AixÂpertÂSoft GmbH, RitÂtal, Atos DeutschÂland and Zattoo.
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TogÂeÂther, the partÂners are reseÂarÂching and demonsÂtÂraÂting the potenÂtial of so-calÂled “windÂCORES”. These are wind turÂbiÂnes that house data cenÂtres in their towers and supÂply them with the wind power geneÂraÂted on site in an almost cliÂmate-neuÂtral manÂner. The aim of the proÂject is to deveÂlop the infraÂstrucÂture and opeÂraÂtioÂnal manageÂment of an HPC clusÂter within seveÂral wind turÂbiÂnes (WTs). The direct, locally available reneÂwaÂble energy is to be incorÂpoÂraÂted into the opeÂraÂtioÂnal manageÂment in order to make maxiÂmum use of it. In addiÂtion, the waste heat geneÂraÂted is also to be conÂsideÂred as a limiÂting factor.
For demonsÂtraÂtion purÂpoÂses, an alterÂnaÂtive — beyÂond the state of the art — archiÂtecÂtuÂral approach will be purÂsued and impleÂmenÂted. The proÂject partÂners are deveÂloÂping an infraÂstrucÂture that conÂtiÂnuously adapts the comÂpuÂting power of the decenÂtraÂliÂsed HPC clusÂter through intenÂsive data utiÂliÂsaÂtion and artiÂfiÂcial intelÂliÂgence (AI) methods via an opeÂraÂting platÂform. The clusÂter is disÂtriÂbuÂted over seveÂral WTs and must optiÂmally exploit the flucÂtuaÂting energy avaiÂlaÂbiÂlity. The proÂject also exploÂres the impact of difÂfeÂrent archiÂtecÂtures and opeÂraÂting straÂteÂgies on the susÂtainaÂbiÂlity assessÂment of the tarÂget sysÂtem. AI-based opeÂraÂtion manageÂment requiÂres behaÂviouÂral and preÂdicÂtive models of the infraÂstrucÂture and the local energy grid, which are not yet available. “The sciÂenÂtiÂfic and techÂniÂcal chalÂlenges of the proÂject lie, among other things, in the intenÂsive data deveÂloÂpÂment and use (energy grid & infraÂstrucÂture), in the inteÂgraÂtion of artiÂfiÂcial intelÂliÂgence into conÂtrol loops, as well as in the sysÂteÂmic merÂging of all models with the help of a digiÂtal twin,” explains Dr. GunÂnar SchoÂmaÂker, manaÂger at SICP. “The focus is on preÂdicÂtions of weaÂther-depenÂdent local energy avaiÂlaÂbiÂlity, as well as preÂcise behaÂviouÂral models of all interÂacÂting trades with regard to their power conÂsumpÂtion and heat outÂput,” SchoÂmaÂker adds.
A speÂcial feaÂture and innoÂvaÂtion of the proÂject is that the tower of a wind turÂbine is inteÂgraÂted as a potenÂtial heat sink if no waste heat receiÂver is available or if it does not need the waste heat at the moment. The tower can then absorb the waste heat from the IT sysÂtems and cool it down. This funcÂtion, togÂeÂther with energy avaiÂlaÂbiÂlity, is to be used as a guiÂdeÂline for the opeÂraÂtion of the HPC clusÂter. In conÂcrete terms, this means that the sysÂtem will only run if reneÂwaÂble energy is available and waste heat can be disÂsiÂpaÂted in an almost CO2-neuÂtral manÂner. InitiÂally, the proÂject will focus on the techÂniÂcal and ecoÂnoÂmic feaÂsiÂbiÂlity, the funcÂtional and didacÂtic demonsÂtraÂtion of the opeÂraÂtion and the susÂtainaÂbiÂlity assessÂment of the sysÂtem in the extenÂded sysÂtem life cycle. HoweÂver, the intenÂded results should be transÂferaÂble not only to wind turÂbiÂnes, but also to other HPC sysÂtems with waste heat geneÂraÂtors and waste heat users.
“The proÂject parÂtiÂcuÂlarly addresÂses the chalÂlenges of the energy tranÂsiÂtion and digiÂtaÂliÂsaÂtion. We want to show that the increÂasing energy demand of digiÂtaÂliÂsaÂtion is not a dead end for more susÂtainaÂbiÂlity and that these growth needs can also be covered fleÂxiÂbly in terms of time and space by regeÂneÂraÂtive enerÂgies,” says Dr Fiete DubÂberke, ManaÂging DirecÂtor of WestÂfaÂlenÂWIND IT, describÂing the proÂject goals. “In doing so, we are asking ourÂselÂves the folÂloÂwing quesÂtiÂons: How can we deal with waste heat from the most diverse indusÂtrial secÂtors, i.e. use it? Which sysÂtems of geneÂraÂtors and users are to be conÂnecÂted in a meaningful way and what tasks can artiÂfiÂcial intelÂliÂgence methods take over?”, SchoÂmaÂker elaÂboÂraÂtes. The “windÂCORES” conÂcept, which was awarded the “GerÂman Data Centre Prize”, has alreÂady shown that merÂging a wind turÂbine with a data centre can also be impleÂmenÂted sucÂcessfully in ecoÂnoÂmic terms.
Above the clouds, freedom must be boundless All fears, all worries They say remain hidden underneath.