The Impact of HPE's Blue Lion Sustainable Supercomputer

Technological sovereignty and environmental mindfulness are converging, driving the global tech industry towards breakthroughs in various complex fields - from climate change modelling to quantum physics and pharmaceutical innovations.

This multifaceted approach amplifies the call for high-performance computing (HPC) systems, while also setting stringent benchmarks in energy efficiency.

In this scenario, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) together with the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre (LRZ) has taken a step with their announcement of the Blue Lion supercomputer in Germany.

This initiative charts the path for future high-performance computing and is a pillar in Europe's efforts to enhance computational power amidst intensifying global geopolitical dynamics.

The collaboration further connects with the European Union’s Green Deal, endeavoring to frame a future where supercomputing power intersects with environmental consciousness through a model for sustainable supercomputer design.

Introducing Blue Lion - a HPC innovation

Slated to be a fundamental component of Germany’s national HPC infrastructure within the Gauss Center for Supercomputing, Blue Lion is prepared to be launched in early 2027.

Expected to outdo its predecessor SuperMUC-NG by 30 times in terms of performance, it will incorporate avant-garde Nvidia processors and blockchain technology, setting a robust platform for intensive research in diverse scientific domains like astrophysics, fluid mechanics and life sciences.

Prof. Dieter Kranzlmüller, head of LRZ, underscores the potential of Blue Lion: “Procuring a new supercomputer takes work, but it's incredibly exciting. We can already take a look into the future of supercomputing.

"This increases the anticipation and even more the excitement of how the scientific community will use this system to make even better progress into new realms of knowledge. After all, it's not about having the fastest supercomputer, but about providing the best possible support for cutting-edge research with our high-performance infrastructure.”

Innovative architecture tailored for extensive applications

At its core, Blue Lion’s architecture will meld traditional simulation and modelling workflows with advanced AI methodologies.

It aims to handle demanding simulations, like predicting atmospheric turbulence or large-scale climate events, through a robust infrastructure supporting a High-Performance Ethernet technology - HPE Slingshot - which boasts data transfer speeds of up to 400 gigabits per second.

This level of innovation underpins scalability and collaborative possibilities across the entire computing and storage spectrum of Blue Lion, reinforcing its role not just nationally but as a beacon of scientific research globally.

Heiko Meyer, Executive Vice President and Chief Sales Officer at HPE, points out the importance of this project for Germany's positioning in global supercomputing: “Supercomputing plays a pivotal role for progress in science and society, as well as for national competitiveness.

"LRZ's Blue Lion is another big step to reinforce Germany's position as a leading region for supercomputing and AI innovation.”

Sustainability and efficiency at the forefront

Substantiating the shift towards sustainable tech solutions, Blue Lion integrates features such as 100% direct liquid cooling, which leverages 40°C warm water efficiently navigated through copper pipes within racks – a system that substantially cuts down both operating costs and CO2 emissions.

It further allows the potential utilisation of waste heat, a feature the LRZ already employs to heat its facilities and may extend to neighboring establishments.

Nvidia’s Global VP of Sales and Business Development for HPC and Supercomputing, John Josephakis, discusses the significance of such sustainable innovations: “The advancement of supercomputing, with a focus on energy efficiency and sustainability, is essential for pushing the boundaries of scientific discovery and innovation.

"Blue Lion, powered by Nvidia’s next-gen accelerators and processors, will help researchers tackle complex challenges across multiple disciplines, from astrophysics to life sciences.”

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