Applications are now being accepted for time on Blue Waters supercomputer. One of the world's most powerful computing systems, more than 16 million node-hours were allocated to campus projects over the last year. This is the final year of operations; submission deadline is November 2.
--From: https://emails.illinois.edu/newsletter/1581349436.html
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NCSA leadership included the estimated cost of 100% clean energy for the next supercomputer project in their proposal to NSF this month. The budgetary number is based on pricing estimates for purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). Based on current market estimates, and subject to availability and future market conditions, it is estimated that the total five year cost for RECs for a 3MW average load would be approximately $65K.
If/when the NSF grant is approved, F&S Utilities & Energy Services will be able to facilitate the purchase of the RECs, through the grant funding, and NCSA will then be able to claim the use of green power.
Following the completion of iWG assessment, this recommendation was transmitted to the Vice Chancellor for Research (VCR).
For future updates, please refer to PPA for National Petascale Computing Facility.
The iCAP Working Group (iWG) met on February 23rd, 2017, to discuss and start the assessment on the SWATeam recommendation EGen006 Petascale Offsets. The iWG's official recommendation was:
"This has been an open issue since the 2010 iCAP and the 2015 iCAP. This should be addressed with the current discussions about supercomputing on campus."
See attached the iWG assessment complete with official comments from all the iWG members.
see file
see file
The eGen SWATeam submitted a recommendation to the iWG stating, "Continue and/or start discussions with the Vice Chancellor for Research and/or NCSA regarding the development of a plan and budget to procure the offset for all emissions from the National Petascale computing facility as outlined in the 2015 iCAP."
See attached the SWATeam recommendation EGen006 Pertascale Offsets complete with comments from all the eGen SWATeam members.
The EGEN SWATeam held their first meeting for the Spring 2017 semester. Topics covered include:
The EGEN SWATeam held their fourth meeting for the Fall 2016 semester. Topics covered include:
The EGEN SWATeam held their third meeting for the Fall 2016 semester. Topics covered include:
iSEE reported to the SWATeam that they have reached out to NCSA to discuss incorporating a clean energy Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) in the next supercomputing grant application and agreement.
