Sandia National Laboratories fits defence-grade supercomputer

Few laboratory information management systems are likely to rival the military-standard supercomputer recently fitted at Sandia National Laboratories.

The alternative energy research facility has upgraded its existing IT system, fitting an all-optical fibre network designed to minimise the amount of wiring needed.

An innovative cooling system means air actually cools slightly during its time passing through the array, with coolants located within inches of the primary heat source they are intended to tackle.

Sandia National Laboratories claims that this is the first defence-grade supercomputer to be applied to alternative energy issues.

With it, the organisation is able to quickly analyse natural resources including wind and the sun in order to maximise the benefits achieved through harnessing them, a process that would previously have taken weeks or even months.

Sandia National Laboratories approaches alternative energy as a matter of national security as it aims to ensure an abundant supply of clean power and water for the future.