The world's fifth largest EDF power company with a market capitalization of $ 33 billion, launched visual modeling software GPUSPH on iExec, a decentralized application that runs on the Ethereum network (RLC token). Thus, EDF will be able to check how the program works on the blockchain.
In particular, the simulator explores the “smoothed particle method” for hydrodynamic modeling. The general idea is that the GPUSPH application is useful for exploring various areas, such as building dams or even cooling lava. EDF is trying to determine whether Ethereum adds any benefits to the simulator. EDF blockchain engineer Gilles Deleuze noted:
“In a broader perspective [...], the development of distributed computing is a likely scenario in the future, and the blockchain can be a good practice in this scenario. Therefore, we started testing. ”
iExec is an application on Ethereum, launched in 2016 to study the concept of cloud computing on the blockchain. While in the world of cloud computing is now dominated by large companies, the creators of the application are trying to decentralize the calculations on the Ethereum.
IExec Innovation and Implementation Manager Jean-Charles Cabelguen stated that there are many advantages to using iExec for GPUSPH, including clear monitoring of the application’s state and computational power, as well as increased application resilience as it works in a decentralized network.
But perhaps one of the most pressing problems facing Ethereum is that it doesn’t scale well, at least for now. But iExec claims that they have found their own solution and can guarantee that the application is scaled to the extent necessary.
“Complex calculations are performed outside the network and do not overload Ethereum. After that, the blockchain is used to reach a consensus on the reliability of the results of the calculations. The hash of this result is stored on the blockchain”, said Kabelgen.
However, EDF believes that this technology is worth exploring. Deleuze even added that in the future, EDF plans to launch other tests on iExec. He said:
“The plan is to continue working with other open scientific codes that may require other types of working environments.”
Blockchain is increasingly used in the energy sector. Last month it became known that the US Department of Energy is considering the blockchain as a way to protect against cyber attacks in power plants.