Eni’s Revolutionary HPC6: Ushering in a New Era of Supercomputing and Energy Transition
Eni has embarked on a groundbreaking project to enhance its supercomputing capabilities in a significant leap forward for high-performance computing. The new HPC6 supercomputer, set to become one of the world’s most potent industrial computing systems, heralds a new era in computing power, supporting Eni’s transition to future energy sources.
Major Upgrade in Computing Power
Launched in San Donato Milanese (Milan) on January 23, 2024, the HPC6 is an ambitious upgrade from Eni’s current HPC4 and HPC5 systems. This advanced system will propel Eni’s computational capacity from 70 PFlop/s to an astonishing peak of over 600 PFlop/s, translating to 600 quadrillion mathematical operations per second. This dramatic increase signifies an order-of-magnitude enhancement in computing capacity and underscores Eni’s commitment to technological excellence.
Cutting-Edge Technology and Partnerships
HPC6’s architecture, leveraging globally leading technology, is a product of a partnership with Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), which emerged victorious in a competitive international tender. The system employs HPE Cray EX4000 and HPE Cray ClusterStor E1000 technologies for computing and storage. Comprising AMD EPYC™ CPUs and AMD Instinct™ GPUs supported by the HPE Slingshot Interconnect, HPC6 is primed to efficiently handle exascale-class workloads.
Energy Efficiency and Sustainability Focus
Aligned with Eni’s sustainability ethos, HPC6 boasts enhanced energy efficiency, minimizing its carbon footprint. Housed within the Green Data Center, it benefits from an innovative liquid cooling system, amplifying its efficiency and sustainability and reinforcing Eni’s dedication to environmental stewardship.
CEO’s Vision: Technological Leadership and Energy Transition
Eni’s CEO, Claudio Descalzi, emphasizes the project’s importance: “This initiative underscores our technological leadership and reaffirms Eni’s role in supercomputing. It also aligns with our commitment to innovation, digitalization, and supporting our energy transition process.” The new system is a testament to Eni’s pursuit of computational excellence in addressing energy security, competitiveness, and sustainability challenges.
A Significant Milestone for Eni
This investment cements Eni’s stature in industrial high-performance computing and bolsters its position as a high-tech company at the forefront of the energy transition. Beyond supporting digitalization and innovation, HPC6 is instrumental in addressing the challenges of achieving net zero, offering a vital technological edge in developing new energy sources.
Eni’s existing HPC4 and HPC5 systems, with a combined power of 70 PFlop/s, are renowned for their energy-efficient hybrid architecture. Located in the Green Data Center in Ferrera Erbognone, these systems are among Europe’s most eco-friendly computing centers. The upcoming HPC6, with its impressive 600 PFlop/s peak power, advanced AMD hardware, and innovative cooling system, represents a significant advancement in supercomputing infrastructure.
