Eiffage Énergie Systèmes to build Jupiter, Europe's first exaflop supercomputer

The Franco-German consortium comprising our customer Eviden, a business line of the Atos group (leader in advanced computing), has contracted EuroHPC JU to supply Europe's very first exascale supercomputer. Known as Jupiter, it is the first European computer capable of exaflop performance. It will be operated by the Jülich research center and made available to researchers and companies to develop algorithms for the environmental sector (weather and climate forecasting), air traffic control and artificial intelligence.

“The various modules (or shelters) that make up the supercomputer are manufactured in the Vosges by our partner Framatec, a metal carpenter located in Dinozé and Rambervillers. Each module (17 m x 3 m) is fully pre-equipped by our Vittel works center. In total, we'll be equipping 21 modules, installing fifteen 2,500 A electrical cabinets, along with distribution, cable trays, cables, lighting and all hydraulic networks, which will be placed under the technical floor of each module to cool the ECU electrical cabinets”, explained works center activity manager Christophe Millot.

The UPS Room, contained in one module, and the data hall, made up of four shelters, have already been delivered to Germany. The eight IT Rooms, each consisting of two modules, will first be equipped with computer racks in Angers before moving on to Jülich. Each IT Room contains 20 computers and associated cabinets, which are cooled by circulating hot water at a temperature of 37 - 47°C. This hot water is then used to heat the research center's buildings.

“The computers are already supercomputers by virtue of their technology. They will multiply data processing power, making Jupiter the most powerful Data Center in Europe. The electrical system used to power the supercomputer requires total installed power of 38 MW, delivered by a 35,000 volt HV line. We had to comply with German electrical standards (VDE), as well as with a specification involving electrical requirements different from our own, in order to complete this project,” explained Christophe Millot.

This European-scale project, with a total budget of around 500 million euros, is the first partnership with our customer Eviden, who told our experts that they have other projects in the pipeline, particularly in France.