Thrust 3: Operational Efficiency

decorative image with a power symbol surrounded by an icon of a computer chip

This thrust develops mechanisms and management strategies that reduce operational carbon by aligning computing demand with clean energy availability. The research spans three layers: demand response frameworks that coordinate grid operators, datacenter operators, and end users; power mechanisms such as energy proportionality and computational sprinting; and power management algorithms using game theory, reinforcement learning, and real-time scheduling across heterogeneous infrastructure.

Key Research Questions

  • How should demand response programs coordinate grid operators, facility managers, and workload schedulers?
  • Can sprinting and energy-proportional designs achieve carbon savings without violating quality-of-service guarantees?
  • What role do game-theoretic and learning-based approaches play in managing power across competing workloads?
RolePIInstitution
LeadAdam WiermanCaltech
CollaboratorBenjamin LeePenn
CollaboratorLinh PhanPenn
CollaboratorChristopher StewartOhio State