Whiffle, a frontrunner in numerical weather prediction, has partnered with LuxProvide, a leader in High-Performance Computing (HPC). This collaboration harnesses the MeluXina supercomputer from LuxProvide, which features computing capacity of 18 PetaFlops per second, 20 PetaBytes of DDN storage and a scalable architecture. Whiffle can now achieve high-resolution weather simulations over domains as large as 200km x 200km, with the potential for even further expansion. The large capacity of Meluxina also allows for simulations covering long historical periods within a matter of hours. This technological leap is instrumental in addressing the growing demands of today’s wind energy projects, which increasingly require the analysis of greater geographic areas due to the clustering trend in wind farm development.
At the Forefront of Supercomputing
Whiffle uses LuxProvide’s HPC infrastructure to enhance the computational capabilities of its LES technology, enabling high-speed processing of vital weather data (such as wind patterns, turbulence, and wakes) for wind energy projects. MeluXina, the innovative supercomputer, plays a central role with its versatile software ecosystem, designed for scalable HPC, data analytics, and AI. It supports containerized workflows, ensuring efficiency in complex computational tasks.
“Whiffle plays at the forefront of scientific computing. Our innovative GPU-based model is highly flexible and can adapt to the latest developments in cloud and HPC technology. Working alongside LuxProvide experts, we have achieved further enhancements to fully leverage the infrastructure that they offer. We can now meet the expanding needs of multi-gigawatt wind farms, providing precise weather insights for large domains, in a fraction of the time.” says Remco Verzijlbergh. “Leveraging the extensive number of interconnected GPUs that are available on demand, we have markedly improved the speed and scale of our modelling processes. This advancement lays the groundwork for future continental-scale LES applications,” he adds.
A new era in weather prediction
While artificial intelligence often garners the spotlight in technological innovations, Whiffle’s approach to numerical weather prediction integrates a more complex suite of technologies, with atmospheric physics on modern GPU infrastructures taking center stage. Reflecting on this, Remco remarks, “Our partnership with LuxProvide shows that it’s not all AI that makes for scientific progress; it is a full-scale symphony of sophisticated technologies, playing in perfect harmony.”
“Our mission is to offer our customers a unique platform that combines data science expertise and supercomputing resources, enabling them to accelerate their innovation projects. Our collaboration with Whiffle is an example of it by representing a paradigm shift, not merely in technology integration but in redefining the boundaries of renewable energy forecasting. Through our dynamic partnership, harnessing innovative, high-performance computing, we’re not just setting new benchmarks; we are revolutionizing the landscape of weather prediction and its impact on wind energy systems.” says Filipe Pais, Chief Customer Officer, LuxProvide.
Whiffle B.V. was founded in 2015, starting as a spin out of the Dutch Delft University of Technology. With its roots in science, the company continues to use cutting edge R&D to further develop Large Eddy Simulation (LES) models and its unique implementation on high performance computing systems. This resulted in the world’s first Large Eddy Simulation (LES) based operational weather model that produces highly accurate and ultra high-resolution weather forecasts. Application areas of Whiffle’s model include short-term wind and solar power forecasting and wind resource assessments.
LuxProvide is a leading provider of high-performance computing solutions in Luxembourg. LuxProvide offers a unique platform that combines data science and supercomputing resources delivering insights for better decision-making. To learn more, please visit www.luxprovide.lu.
