Apply for Argonne’s high performance computing resources and expertise to improve energy efficiency

U.S. manufacturing companies can leverage the supercomputing resources at national laboratories to help them cut greenhouse gas emissions.

High performance computing (HPC) can help manufacturers reduce their energy costs, cut their carbon footprint and accelerate the development of new energy-efficient materials and manufacturing processes. However, many companies do not have access to the supercomputers or expertise needed to run powerful simulations, artificial intelligence (AI) programs or machine learning (ML) algorithms on their own.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is stepping up to meet this need. Companies can apply to the HPC4EI program through regular calls for funding to engage the world-class computing resources and HPC experts at the DOE national laboratories.The program’s goal is to help companies use HPC to address critical manufacturing or materials challenges, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Ultimately, HPC4EI can help U.S. manufacturing become greener and more efficient. 

The HPC4EI program supports companies interested in helping the U.S. move toward an equitable clean energy future.

The HPC4EI program is now accepting applications for materials or manufacturing projects. U.S. companies can apply for up to $300,000 to fund work with DOE national laboratory scientists and access some of the world’s fastest supercomputers. The program is designed for companies with energy-focused projects that could uniquely benefit from HPC. Companies interested in pursuing projects that have the potential to yield significant improvements in energy efficiency, or that support the development of new energy conversion and storage technologies, are encouraged to apply.

DOE’s Argonne National Laboratory has helped many companies through the HPC4EI program. Argonne has aligned its computing expertise with researchers who develop advanced technologies for U.S. manufacturers. Some of the most successful HPC4EI projects pair industry partners with Argonne’s diverse experts in computing, manufacturing science, engineering, data analysis and advanced modeling to meet the companies’ materials or manufacturing goals. Examples of successful HPC4EI projects at Argonne include:

• Working with Argonne’s engineers and supercomputers, 3M is using machine learning to optimize energy efficiency in the manufacturing of nonwoven materials. This can reduce both carbon emissions and production costs while maintaining product quality. 
• Argonne has helped ArcelorMittal use HPC and ML to develop a new energy-efficient method for producing steel slabs. The new manufacturing process produced higher quality steel with less greenhouse gas emissions.
• Raytheon Technologies Research Center is currently working with Argonne to develop a new ultrahigh temperature metal for use in the aerospace industry. They are using HPC to design and fabricate a strong, durable metal matrix composite strong enough to operate at the very high temperatures needed for the next generation of energy-efficient jet engines.
• In one of the latest HPC4EI projects, Electric Power Research Institute, Inc., and the Shaw Group are using Argonne’s state-of-the-art simulation tools to model the optimal way to bend pipes using induction technology. This process aims to avoid cracking, enhance pipe quality and reduce the amount of energy used to manufacture pipes needed for energy production.

This year, the HPC4EI program is hoping to reach a wide range of companies interested in helping the U.S. move toward an equitable clean energy future. This could include companies who want to use HPC to craft new materials for carbon capture technology, develop more efficient energy storage methods, improve renewable energy technology or reduce emissions related to the production of energy-intensive materials, such as cement.

Companies that partner with Argonne through the HPC4EI program work with scientists in the Laboratory’s research divisions and with computer scientists at the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility (ALCF), a DOE Office of Science user facility. At ALCF, companies can access unique and powerful computing resources, including Argonne’s newest supercomputer, Polaris, and the ALCF AI Testbed.

The DOE published a Notice of Intent to open a funding opportunity for the HPC4EI program that will cover both materials and manufacturing projects. To learn more about the program and apply, register for an April 8 webinar or visit the HPC4EI website.

The HPC4EI program is sponsored by the Department of Energy’s Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO) within the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Office and the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM).