Researchers working to address the global quest for net zero are among those being invited to harness the power of the UK’s national supercomputer to assist their research.
Through the High End Computing Consortium for Wave Structure Interaction (HEC-WSI), academics and industry – working across fields including offshore renewable energy, clean maritime and the design and development of coastal infrastructure – can gain access to ARCHER2.
A world-class advanced computing resource, it enables huge quantities of data to be processed significantly quicker than through any system previously available.
This is particularly critical in sectors that use a range of complex numerical models in addition to testing pilot or small-case devices in laboratories and ocean environments.
Through the HEC-WSI consortium, partners can apply for timed access to use ARCHER2 for anything from three to 12 months. It is also running a specific programme of training and support for early career researchers.
The HEC-WSI consortium is being funded until January 2027 through a grant of more than £350,000 from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.
Led by the University of Plymouth, it unites universities and industry across the UK and globally, with partners in the Republic of Ireland, China, Japan, India and Europe.
“As engineers, we work with computers every time we need to generate data. But at the moment, if we want to conduct tests exploring the impact of waves on new devices or infrastructure, we are limited to quite small and short simulations. Gaining access to ARCHER2 enables us to scale that up significantly, ultimately providing us with more detailed and comprehensive results that will be critical to any project’s development.”
The HEC-WSI aims to build on the success of the CCP-WSI+ consortium, also led by the University, which developed a community of more than 200 researchers working to address the sector’s most pressing current and future challenges.
“The need to both understand and harness the power of our ocean has never been greater. With the demand for clean energy – particularly floating offshore wind and other sectors – advancing at pace, we need a level of data that can inform and secure development and deployments now and in the future. The HEC-WSI initiative furthers the UK’s leadership in this field, and reinforces the University’s position at the forefront of net zero innovation.”
