In 2024, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) completed the full deployment of Kestrel, a new high-performance computing system from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. This supercomputer delivers approximately 56 petaflops of computing power, designed to advance energy research with the help of artificial intelligence and machine learning.
NREL’s Advanced Computing Annual Report for FY 2024 highlights the system’s role in powering over 425 energy innovation projects across 13 categories, aimed at enhancing American innovation in energy. The report details significant advancements achieved using Kestrel, including improved methods for understanding chemical and materials systems.
One featured project involved the Questaal software, which addresses complex quantum physics equations related to chemical systems. This software simplifies resource-intensive calculations while maintaining accuracy, enabling researchers to tackle fundamental science questions within various studies.
Another key initiative mentioned in the report focuses on breaking down plant cell walls to better understand biomass on a molecular level. Researchers employed a multidisciplinary strategy to analyze the structure of polymers in Populus wood, utilizing Kestrel to create molecular models that reveal the interactions responsible for the stability of biomass.
