HPE collaborates with Eni to launch HPC6 supercomputer for renewable energy research

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE: HPE) has announced its collaboration with Eni, one of the leading global energy providers, to construct a state-of-the-art supercomputer named HPC6. This initiative underscores both companies’ commitment to leveraging advanced technology for scientific discovery and engineering, with the aim of propelling innovation in the energy transition towards net zero emissions. HPC6, set to become one of the most powerful enterprise-owned supercomputers globally, represents a strategic move towards integrating digitalization in environmental sustainability efforts.

The HPC6 supercomputer, built with HPE Cray EX4000 systems and equipped with AMD EPYC CPUs and AMD Instinct accelerators, is designed to support extensive workloads across artificial intelligence (AI), modeling, and simulation. This technology is instrumental in Eni’s ongoing research into new and renewable energy sources, boosting the company’s computational power to a theoretical peak of 600 petaFLOP/s.

Antonio Neri, president and CEO of HPE, emphasized the balance between harnessing AI’s business opportunities and addressing the environmental impacts of such potent systems. HPE’s leadership in developing energy-efficient AI and supercomputing solutions positions it as a key player in supporting organizations’ efforts to minimize power consumption while achieving significant business outcomes.

The installation of HPC6 in Eni’s Green Data Center in Italy, which will be enhanced with HPE’s direct liquid-cooling (DLC) technology, reflects a commitment to energy efficiency. The DLC technology promises reduced energy usage compared to traditional air-cooled systems. Additionally, HPC6 will feature the HPE Slingshot Interconnect and HPE Cray ClusterStor E1000, integrating exascale workloads support and efficient performance storage solutions.

Claudio Bassoli, president and managing director of HPE Italy, highlighted the importance of AI-driven research facilitated by supercomputing in accelerating scientific discovery and innovation. The partnership with Eni on this critical project showcases HPE’s dedication to energy efficiency in advancing new energy sources development.

The collaboration between Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Eni to develop the HPC6 supercomputer is a landmark in the quest for sustainable energy solutions. By combining HPE’s technological expertise and Eni’s commitment to decarbonization, this project sets a new standard for using supercomputing in environmental and energy research. As companies globally strive towards net zero, the HPC6 initiative exemplifies how technological innovation and environmental stewardship can work hand in hand to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time.