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Published in joint collaboration with Verne.
Research computing is being transformed by the shift to cloud, and
StackHPC is at the forefront of this revolution.
Drawing on deep expertise in OpenStack,
the open source cloud platform, StackHPC enables researchers to
drive innovation and accelerate breakthroughs by seamlessly integrating
High-Performance Computing (HPC) and AI with the scalability and flexibility
of the cloud.
The company is committed to open source components and community-driven
training that benefit both individual users and the broader open source
ecosystem. This ethos of resource efficiency also drives StackHPC’s
dedication to sustainability and ensuring that research computing
not only pushes boundaries but also considers its environmental footprint.
Tackling the hidden carbon costs of HPC hardware
StackHPC, in partnership with Verne,
is driving sustainable innovation in research computing by extending
the lifecycle of high-performance servers and reducing the carbon
footprint associated with high-intensity computing.
The rapid growth of AI and other compute-intensive technologies has
drawn attention to the environmental impact of high intensity compute
– and the data centres that house it. While many understand the
importance of using renewable energy sources and enhancing energy
efficiency in data centres, there is less awareness about the
significant carbon footprint created from the manufacture of data centre
hardware.
StackHPC recognised this often-overlooked factor, and sought to
extend the lifecycle of powerful, high-performance servers for
research computing, while reducing hardware waste and the carbon
emissions associated with manufacturing new equipment.
The manufacture of a single standard server can generate an estimated
1322 kg of CO2 emissions, according to Dell.
Depending on the model and configuration of the server, the amount
of emissions generated can be even higher.
Yet, servers are often discarded after just 3–5 years, driven by
hardware upgrades or discontinued vendor support – wasting functional
equipment and contributing to unnecessary emissions.
Partnering with Verne
Rather than letting perfectly good servers go to waste, StackHPC
sought to prolong the life cycle of existing equipment and repurpose
it for open source research computing. In 2020, the project began
with a donation of high-performance servers, followed by the search
for a sustainable, specialised data centre partner to house the
equipment.
The company found the perfect home for its cutting-edge research
computing at Verne’s data centre in Iceland. Powered entirely by
hydroelectric and geothermal energy, Verne ensures the servers
operate on 100% renewable electricity. The facility also leverages
Iceland’s temperate climate for year-round free air cooling,
eliminating the need for energy-intensive mechanical cooling systems.
By housing its servers at Verne, StackHPC reduces the carbon footprint
of its operations while aligning with its commitment to support a
circular economy for research computing.
Verne is also the ideal partner for HPC, offering purpose-built
data centres designed to accommodate demanding workloads. Its
facilities are configured to fully support high-density computing,
with robust power infrastructure, including redundant power supplies
and cooling systems – ensuring continuous operation of HPC workloads
and optimal performance and reliability.
How StackHPC and Verne are reducing emissions and waste
Verne provided data centre rack space for the initial donation of
servers in 2020, and when that equipment reached the end of its
useful life in late 2023, StackHPC sought out new hardware. The
donation of servers from a leading climate research institution,
along with some hardware from a prominent UK university,
has been instrumental in advancing this project – contributing to
the reduction of electronic waste and playing a key role in making
open source research computing more accessible.
Currently, StackHPC operates 28 servers within Verne’s facility,
with the goal of maximising the useful life of the hardware, rather
than retiring it prematurely. Given the high carbon cost of the
manufacture of such advanced servers – likely higher for the advanced
servers used by StackHPC – this approach is crucial to lowering the
overall carbon footprint of the equipment.
Even by conservative estimates, the carbon emissions embodied in
manufacturing 28 servers amount to approximately 37,016 kg of CO2-equivalent
emissions – the equivalent of burning 18.65 tonnes of coal.
"We’re tremendously grateful to our clients for their hardware
donations that are now driving open source development in scientific
computing. By extending the life of these donated servers, we're
not just preventing valuable hardware from ending up as waste; we're
also maximising the value of the carbon emissions already invested
in their production. It’s a smarter use of resources that directly
promotes more sustainable research computing.” – Stig Telfer, CTO,
StackHPC
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