We started as GPU based blockchain enthusiasts and grew to a HPC cloud provider!
We have been working on professionalising HPC infrastructure since the beginning of
2016. Our most important ambition is to bring HPC tasks to everyone.
Our enthusiasm is what helped to create BlockTechSystems.
Our expertise lies within building, operating and orchestrating large scale
GPU clusters, aiming to be the worlds most energy-efficient
and cost effective. We recently set up a large scale GPU cluster
of 46.000 GPUs in Norway.
BlockTechSystems
is one of the largest HPC operations in Europe.
We build and develop data centres for large scale GPU clusters.
A large part of the energy required to operate IT infrastructures
for "Big Data", "Deep Learning", "Neural Networks" or mining is
used exclusively for cooling the IT components. Our solution is
to convert the energy used for cooling into usable waste heat
and return it to the community. This way we can create new and
self-contained ecosystems. Therefore, we are rethinking every aspect
of building GPU clusters, cooling infrastructure and datecentres in general.
Past / Present / Future
A big problem in the data centre landscape is that local
infrastructures in the area of energy and bandwidth are
approaching the performance limits. It is now also no longer
possible to further expand the networks. This alone sometimes
increases planning times for larger data centres to more than
five years.
Datecentres are currently not build to accomodate the most
advanced hardware, they are build to fascilitate as much
traditional rack space as possible for colocation puposes.
It leads to unflexible and only standardised datacentre designs.
Our client is the IT hardware itself, so we are able to provide
disruptive, purpose build datacentre designs, to bring
cost-effective computational GPU power to the cloud.
We follow the approach of setting up our GPU clusters
in places where energy is generated and cannot be used adequately.
There are numerous places in Europe – and worldwide
– where immense amounts of energy are generated (e.g. wind
farms in Northern Germany, biogas in rural areas, solar
energy in the desert, hydropower in the mountains, etc.).
The problem is that the energy cannot always be
transported to places where it is needed. We want to set up
decentralised data centres in places where energy is
generated but cannot be used efficiently – at the same time
we want to supply the environment (residential, industrial
areas, etc...) with our waste heat. This way we can make sure
that an energy-intensive process, such as an HPC purpose,
does not waste energy unnecessarily, but instead uses the
energy that is available but cannot currently be consumed.
The benefits
think global
We are setting up decentralised HPC centres all over Europe.
Cleverness
We do not consume energy – we use energy in places where it is generated!
Easy to set up
Our systems are easy to set up. All we need is access to water, electricity and a data line.
power reduction
We are designing systems to minimize the energy used for cooling.
energy conversion
Through our energy efficient cooling techniques,
we eventually create the possibility to give back heat to the community.
future act
We are developing data centre solutions for the future for "Deep Learning", "Rendering", "Neural Networks" and other complex application areas.
HISTORY
Mining begins, the first mining rigs go on line
Colocation in the Netherlands. The first 1000 GPUs will be built in a rented data centre
Our colocation partner has no space left
Planning of our first blockchain mining data centre in the Netherlands
Another colocation partner is joining us (Eindhoven)
Development work begins in order to liquid-cool mining IT
The first prototype of a 100% liquid-cooled mining cassette is created
Construction work begins on our own data centre. We decide to build a demo centre with 10 liquid-cooled modules in Eindhoven together with our colocation partner
Application for subsidies to the Netherlands Enterprise Agency "Immersed Blockchain Computing" (DEI Topsector Energie). Construction phase 1 completed and a classic cold aisle is created (air-cooled)
Delivery and commissioning of the first module
Completion of phase 1: air-cooled cold aisle (several thousand GPUs)
All 10 modules delivered in Eindhoven. Subsidy application approved and paid out
Planning phase 2 and 3: immersed blockchain computing in our own data centre
Start of construction work for phase 2 in our own data centre (26 modules to be built and commissioned)
Phase 2 completed
Start of construction work phase 3 (another 26 modules to be commissioned)
Phase 3 completed (tens of thousands of GPUs in operation). The capacities of our own data centre are exhausted
Implementation of the first decentralised data centre projects: How waste turns into mining, wind energy in northern Germany, biogas plants and wind energy in the Netherlands
