EE HPC WG: GRID INTEGRATION

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The Energy Efficient High Performance Computing Working Group (EE HPC WG) has a Grid Integration Team. The Team's focus has primarily been on understanding the relationship between electrical distribution and HPC systems.

The next generation large scale HPC systems with facility provisioning requirements up to 80MW, milli-second-multi-MW power swings and extremely high-heat density will demand stiff and responsive power grid capabilities. Concomitantly, advances in “zero-carbon” mandates, utility resiliency challenges of climate change, and reliance on intermittent renewable generation will narrow the availability of stiff and responsive grid capabilities.

Increases in peak electricity demands and the growing use of renewable energy — with associated intermittency and variable output — present new challenges to electricity service providers. These providers employ demand charges, variable tariffs and demand response programs to influence the consumption behavior of consumers to partially mitigate these challenges. Due to their high load and potential flexibility, large HPC centers are increasingly gaining importance in the grid.

Publications:

Contact and Committee

For further information on this Team's activities, please contact Natalie Bates at natalie@eehpcwg.org

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The Grid Integration Team has members that span both HPC sites and the vendor community from the United States and Europe.

TEAM TECHNICAL LEAD

Brandon Hong, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Brandon Hong is a Systems and Electrical Engineer at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California for the design and construction of utility infrastructure in High Performance Computing facilities at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.