National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED) has connected the UK’s most powerful supercomputer, Isambard-AI, to the electricity grid, supporting a major step forward in artificial intelligence research.
Located in Bristol and 100,000 times faster than an average laptop, Isambard-AI has just become fully operational.
It will drive progress in AI, machine learning and big data analysis across government, academia and industry.
The University of Bristol developed the supercomputer with HPE and NVIDIA, backed by a £225 million government investment. It now ranks as the 11th fastest supercomputer in the world.
NGED engineers built the new power infrastructure in only three weeks. This included hundreds of metres of underground cabling from Emersons Green primary substation and the construction of a new high-voltage substation, to support the system’s 5MW energy demand—equivalent to the usage of around 2,000 homes.
Stephen Blackwell, NGED’s Head of Operations in Bristol, said: “Isambard-AI is a nationally important step forward in AI-research infrastructure. We have worked at pace to enable energisation, helping to boost the country’s AI capabilities.”
Professor Simon McIntosh-Smith, Director of the Bristol Centre for Supercomputing, said: “Securing a 5MW grid connection was a critical step. It enables us to launch Isambard-AI and unlock its full potential.”
He added: “This project places Bristol at the centre of the AI revolution, supporting breakthroughs in areas like drug discovery and climate science.”
UK’s most powerful supercomputer connects to the grid appeared first on Energy Live News.