HPE (NYSE:HPE) has partnered with Earth Sciences New Zealand (formerly NIWA) to deploy Cascade, a new HPE Cray XD2000 supercomputer designed for AI and simulation workloads. Purpose-built to accelerate environmental research and meteorological forecasting, Cascade triples the computational power of Earth Sciences New Zealand’s previous HPC infrastructure, enabling multiple AI-driven simulations to run simultaneously for higher-precision predictions.
AI-Driven Environmental Science
Cascade supports the nation’s mission to strengthen resilience against climate and weather-related hazards such as wildfires and flooding from heavy rainfall. Powered by AMD 4th Gen EPYC processors and paired with HPE GreenLake for File Storage, Cascade delivers a simplified, high-performance storage environment with 19 petabytes of data, enabling faster decision-making and enhanced crisis management.
Direct liquid cooling (DLC) minimizes energy and water consumption while maintaining optimal system performance, and the CDC data center hosting Cascade is fully powered by 100% renewable energy, highlighting HPE and Earth Sciences New Zealand’s commitment to sustainable HPC operations.
Setting a Regional Benchmark
Cascade represents the largest HPE GreenLake for File Storage implementation in the Asia Pacific, spanning both HPC and enterprise computing workloads. Its flexible architecture ensures scalability for future expansion, positioning New Zealand at the forefront of climate and environmental research technology.
“This upgrade with HPE Cray XD2000 marks a huge leap forward in our ability to understand and predict the environment around us,” said Dr. Jess Robertson, Chief Scientist – Advanced Technology at Earth Sciences New Zealand. “Enhancing research with advanced technology gives us the tools to make smarter, safer decisions for New Zealand in a changing climate.”
From Nowcasting to Renewable Energy Integration
Cascade’s AI capabilities support nowcasting, a technique for short-term, hyper-local weather prediction. This allows emergency services to respond rapidly to extreme events and supports high-frequency solar and wind energy markets by providing precise, real-time forecasts.
Chris Weber, HPE Vice President and Managing Director, South Pacific, emphasized the collaboration’s broader impact: “By delivering advanced HPC and AI capabilities, we’re empowering New Zealand’s leading climate and environmental researchers while maximizing energy efficiency through liquid cooling and renewable energy. This showcases technology’s potential to make a meaningful local and global impact.”
Driving National Climate Resilience
Beyond forecasting, Earth Sciences New Zealand leverages Cascade to advance its low-carbon economy, biodiversity protection, water quality, and regional development initiatives. The supercomputer empowers researchers to accelerate AI-powered simulations, improve public safety, and future-proof the country against climate challenges—creating a model for sustainable, high-performance computing in the Asia Pacific.
Power Tomorrow’s Intelligence — Build It with TechEdgeAI
