DUG Technology (DUG) specialises in analytical software development and green, high performance computing (HPC). DUG's expertise in algorithm development and code optimisation allows clients to leverage big data and solve complex problems. The company is committed to delivering sustainable HPC solutions and turbocharging green-technology innovation. It has developed a patented immersion-cooling technology called DUG Cool, which reduces the power consumption of its data centres by up to 51%.

DUG Cool—Green, immersion-cooling technology for HPC

Digital transformation is taking the world by storm, with organisations moving their processes to the cloud and utilising high performance computing (HPC) to gain agility, efficiency, and better business outcomes. However, the increasing demand for data centres to underpin these services has led to a rising carbon footprint, which is projected to increase exponentially. To achieve sustainable outcomes, data centres need to adopt technologies that minimise power consumption and waste.

DUG, an ASX-listed technology company that specialises in analytical software development and HPC, has designed, owns, and operates a network of some of the world's largest and greenest supercomputers. DUG Cool is an advanced, flexible, and modular cooling solution that submerges computers in specially designed tanks filled with non-toxic, non-flammable, biodegradable fluid that does not conduct electricity. It reduces the power consumption of DUG’s data centres by up to 51%, enabling the company to provide some of the world's greenest and most cost-effective HPC. DUG helps organisations with big data storage and processing requirements reduce their carbon footprint and meet their ESG requirements.

DUG Cool uses evaporative cooling, requiring around 30% less power than a refrigerated system. The removal of computer fans, which are not needed in an immersion-cooling system, reduces power consumption by a further 21%. The result is a total saving of over 50%, with the system using 85% less harmful refrigerants compared to traditional data centres.

DUG Cool has more advantages. The submerged hardware lasts longer as the electrical components are not exposed to air, reducing wear and tear. The far superior thermal properties of the fluid, compared to air, prevent components from overheating, prolonging their longevity and minimising down-time.

Many components of the DUG Cool system were developed, designed and manufactured in Western Australia—a great example of local innovation that is now exported worldwide and benefiting the data centre industry with its power-saving credentials.

DUG Cool is helping decarbonisation efforts across many industries. For instance, DUG Cool helped lower the carbon emissions associated with data processing at the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR). ICRAR was struggling with its data backlog, managing to process a sixth of its backlog over two years. DUG’s HPC experts helped ICRAR clear its entire data backlog in just three hours using only 20% of its compute power in Perth, achieving runtimes that were 125 times faster.

Professor Peter Quinn, Executive Director of ICRAR said: “ICRAR is concerned about the sustainability of astronomical research and we will look to promote and utilise energy-saving technologies, like DUG’s oil-cooled processors, for SKA research.”

Alasdair MacDonald, Director of Research and Innovation at Murdoch University said: “Since its foundation, Murdoch has been known as a ‘green university’, aiming to be a truly sustainable campus by 2023. With its unique, energy-efficient, immersion-cooling technology, DUG is the natural partner for Murdoch and our HPC requirements.”

Andrew Malcolm, Chief Digital Officer at Austal said: “DUG is an ideal partner for Austal, not only as an Australian-based high performance computing service provider but one of the greenest in the world Austal will be running computational analysis through DUG to improve the efficiency of our vessel designs and reduce their GHG emissions; a great combination of world-leading Australian expertise and capability, tackling the challenge of decarbonisation.”

DUG is committed to delivering sustainable HPC solutions and turbocharging green-technology innovation. After all, the greenest power is the power you don't use!