EVENT: Partnering with the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), which acts as a Japanese government agency, The University of Texas at Austin and the State of Texas will begin using alternative energy sources to power some of its high-performance computers. This event marks the completion of Hikari, or “light,” the new, energy-efficient power distribution system coupled with solar farms. Specifically, the partnership will install and test key components of an efficient, high-voltage direct current (HVDC) data center infrastructure and a new solar farm at UT Austin’s Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) at the J.J. Pickle Research Campus in North Austin.
WHEN: Thursday, August 25
1:30 p.m. Keynote remarks
2:00 p.m. Photos and Press Q&A
2:30 p.m. Tour of Hikari
WHERE: J.J. Pickle Research Campus, 10100 Burnet Road, Advanced Computing Building (ACB), Building 205. Map and directions: https://www.tacc.utexas.edu/about/contact/
WHO MAY ATTEND: The event is open to government officials, university and corporate leaders from the United States and Japan, TACC collaborators, UT Austin researchers, faculty members and staffers, and the media. To RSVP as a member of the media, contact Faith Singer-Villalobos at the Texas Advanced Computing Center, 512-663-7237, faith@tacc.utexas.edu
BACKGROUND: In August 2015, Office of the Texas Secretary of State and NEDO entered into a multinational collaboration to improve the energy efficiency and reduce the energy cost of future data centers through the use of an innovative high-voltage direct current (HVDC) power distribution technology. Hikari is the result of this collaboration: a 400-teraflop HP Apollo 8000 operating on a 380-volt DC distribution system, powered by 240 kilowatts from solar panels. Energy efficiency in data centers is a major focus in the technology industry today, and the program positions Texas as a leader in both the renewable energy and data center industries. Hikari will help promote efficiency among scientists who are using advanced computing technology, and provide new educational and research opportunities for students and faculty members in emerging energy systems. This installation will give UT Austin researchers operational data needed to support their discovery of innovative approaches to further improving tomorrow’s data center efficiency.
For more information, visit: https://www.tacc.utexas.edu/-/hvdc-demonstration-project-launch-ceremony
