NETL highlighted its Joule 2.0 supercomputer and innovative applications to advance fossil energy research at this week’s SuperComputing 2019 (SC19) conference in Denver.

Chief Information Officer Antonio Ferreira and other Lab personnel attended the conference Nov. 17-22 at the Colorado Convention Center. This year, NETL participated alongside the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) 16 other national laboratories as part of the DOE booth. The exhibit demonstrated the value of high-performance computing in providing clean, reliable and affordable energy to meet America’s needs.

NETL is home to Joule 2.0, which is among the fastest, largest and most energy-efficient supercomputers in the world. A recent $16.5 million upgrade boosted Joule’s computational power by nearly eight times, enabling researchers to tackle more challenging problems than ever before as they work to make more efficient use of the nation’s vast fossil fuel resources. The powerful 4-petaflop system allows researchers to model energy technologies, simulate challenging phenomena and solve sophisticated problems using computational tools that save time and money to ensure that technology development ultimately proves successful.

NETL has also created a Center for Data Analytics and Machine Learning that allows researchers to explore problems using artificial intelligence, machine learning, data mining and data analytics techniques. The center features a petascale machine designed to house, transport and process up to 37 petabytes of data using cutting-edge algorithms developed in-house and with external collaborators. Partners for this initiative include Carnegie Mellon University, West Virginia University, Battelle, Leidos, industry and other national labs.

The SC conference is a must-attend annual forum for stakeholders throughout the technical computing community. The technical program features about 5,000 participants and addresses virtually every area of scientific and engineering research, as well as technological development, innovation and education. More than 11,000 attendees are expected, including researchers, scientists, application developers, computing center staff and management, computing industry staff, agency program managers, journalists and congressional staffers.

Supercomputing is essential in achieving NETL’s mission to discover, integrate and mature technology solutions that enhance the nation’s energy foundation and protect the environment for future generations. By expediting technology development through computational science and engineering, Joule helps NETL cut costs, save time and spur valuable economic investments with a global impact.