Advances in Wave Energy Converters (and its close relation to Data Centers)

We already talked about Biscay Marine Energy Project and its very close relation to Lemóniz Nuclear Power Plant. We also discussed how this source of green energy could be highly beneficial to revitalizate the plant and activate a data center to serve Basque and International industry and host computing resources for HPC. We also argued why should it be Lemoniz.

Some of these entries already attracted a bit of attention, however I want to explain today my findings regarding this very interesting source of energy and the deep impact in the idea of having a data center in Lemoniz.

The first is this document, that highlights the creation of a data centre to manage an offshore Wave Energy Converters farm that would be built next to Lemoniz. From a computational perspective, this requires a mathematical challenge. Tecnalia Energy, who seems to be already involved in this project seems to be working on these and other topics. It is unknown for me if another engineering firms are doing any development. However and as we exposed in the Iberdrola Engineering case, it seems that a computing cluster could be beneficial to simulate and predict the wave behavior, so that they can protect the equipment and improve energy. Fair enough. I bet the Euskalmet guys would also be very interesting.

However today is this other document called 'bimep(Biscay Marine Energy Platform): an open sea test facility in the Basque Country ' that also attracts my attention. The project that has been presented at the European Union, says that it will be operating by mid-2011. Great news. Licensing works are in progress and my hope is that engineering works will do their best too. At least none can deny the local authorities interest.

All this leads to my opinion, that Lemoniz can still be a successful modern data center that makes use of renewable energies. Lets hope for the best.

Why should it be Lemoniz (the Data Centre) (beta)

0- Because the place needs to be rebuilt, and accommodated as a shared space with the Basque citizines and victims of terrorism: this along with a natural reconversion of the space taken to the sea and the enhancement of Basque human progress is the best end the our society needs. Walled spaces are not something we should be proud of.

And on top of that my technical reasons:

1- Because it is a very safe place (physical): the main buildings (the reactors) are strong large and extremely safe caves that are even prepared for external impacts.
2- Because companies are interested in safe places: to host the datacenter.
3- Because caves could be rebuilt from the inside: warranting an intelligent design and reducing the amount of columns.
4- Because we need to consolidate, protect and run our computing resources to the fullest according with the latest technology and in terms of efficiency and performance.

Therefore:

-This centre and its infrastructure should be created with the agreement with the Government in Madrid, owned by Government in the Basque Country, and in partnership with industry, research and universities in the Basque Country. Lack of any of this factors would mean total failure. On the contrary, social partnership at all levels would be an unprecedented success.

And all this comes from this story.

Where Can I Host An HPC Center ? (Part I)

Hosting such an infrastructure requires lots of space and "think big". Not only the machine but all the infrastructure should be built upon "Lego pieces" that can really scale - and now more than ever help to build something green. Pharaonic designs result into insane bills.

The Safest Hosting Facility Already Built

Today we have known that hosting provider 1and1 is going to build its next datacenter in Hanau Germany, using the space left behind by an old Nuclear Power Plant that was never used before.

In the basque region we got the old Nuclear Power Plant of Lemóniz, a completely built Nuclear Power Plant: it has never been used before so there is no nuclear rubbish inside it. According to the information available on the Wikipedia (spanish version) the building is empty as the machines inside were sold as they were never used.

The safest ready to use hosting facility is in our hand.

What about the power? Can it be green?

Two approaches could be used; in both cases the Basque has enough industrial power to cope with a good solution.

First: This time from Google - the use of shipping containers seems to be power-efficient:


...cooling goes directly through the container -between other ideas proposed by Google like fan controlling-:



...rather than hand-made workarounds that many datacenters have manually implemented:

Second: Lemoniz is by the sea:



... And Tecnalia and Iberdrola two Basque companies have already started a project to develop a wave energy project. Here is a picture of the prototype already installed in Pasajes:

We could not have something better, already built, safer, close to the sea and what is more making use of green energy produced by means of our own developed technology. Other minds already provided solutions so let´s mix & use them.

Update 7th January 2009
The local government has launched BIMEP (Biscay Marine Energy Platform) last 20th of November. The infrastructure is close to Lemoniz as well. Further information in English.

An article published by El Mundo says that the Power Plant belongs to Iberdrola, who does not want much publicity around Lemoniz since it has a high political meaning. Further surfing reveals that Iberdrola has worked and works on HPC-Energy projects.