Nvidia to Build AI Supercomputers for U.S. Energy Department

The landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) and supercomputing is rapidly evolving, with Nvidia emerging as a pivotal force in this transformation. Recently, Nvidia announced a groundbreaking collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to build some of the most advanced AI supercomputers for the U.S. Energy Department. This partnership is set to accelerate scientific breakthroughs, bolster technological leadership, and maintain America’s competitive edge in the global AI race.

Key Takeaways

• The partnership between Nvidia and Oracle represents a new model of computing partnerships that leverage private sector capabilities alongside DOE's science and computing expertise to accelerate technological innovation in AI supercomputers for US energy and scientific research.

• By integrating Nvidia AI chips work with advanced AI infrastructure, the DOE aims to develop new AI capabilities that will enhance science and energy applications, ensuring sustained leadership in the evolving AI race.

• This initiative, supported by President Trump’s policies, exemplifies how shared computing power and investment can drive technology innovations, positioning the US Energy Department at the forefront of global AI supercomputing advancements.

Partnership with the Department of Energy: Driving Scientific and Technological Innovation

In a landmark move, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang revealed plans to build seven AI supercomputers for the U.S. Energy Department. This initiative is not only about building machines but about creating an AI factory that serves as America’s engine for discovery. These supercomputers will support critical national missions, including maintaining the nuclear weapons arsenal and researching alternative energy sources such as nuclear fusion.

The DOE’s new public-private partnership model, supported by Nvidia, exemplifies how shared computing power and science and computing expertise can accelerate scientific breakthroughs. By giving researchers access to advanced AI computing resources, this collaboration aims to drive technological leadership in scientific and energy applications.

Nvidia’s role as an artificial intelligence chip leader is central to this effort. The company’s AI chips are designed to enable scientists to run complex AI models, pushing the boundaries of scientific discovery. The partnership reflects a broader strategy to ensure America leads the AI race by fostering new and creative partnerships that bring together industries American technology has to offer.

The Role of Argonne National Laboratory

Argonne National Laboratory, a DOE national lab complex, will host the largest AI supercomputer, the Solstice system, featuring 100,000 Nvidia Blackwell GPUs. This collaboration highlights the integration of frontier AI systems with scientific AI workflows, enabling researchers to address complex challenges in energy, security, and discovery science. The Equinox system, equipped with 10,000 Blackwell GPUs, is also under construction and expected to be delivered in 2026, further expanding the DOE’s AI infrastructure.

AI Infrastructure and Technology: Building the Most Advanced AI Infrastructure

At the heart of this partnership is the development of the Solstice system, the DOE’s largest AI supercomputer. Powered by 100,000 Nvidia Blackwell GPUs, Solstice delivers a staggering 2,200 exaflops of AI performance. This advanced AI infrastructure supports a broad range of scientific and energy applications, enabling researchers to develop new frontier models and agentic AI workflows using Nvidia’s Megatron-Core library and TensorRT™ inference software stack.

The Equinox and Solstice systems provide groundbreaking capabilities, seamlessly connecting to forefront DOE experimental facilities such as the Advanced Photon Source. These AI systems are designed to accelerate scientific AI workflows and technological innovation, giving researchers access to critical resources necessary to tackle the nation’s most pressing challenges.

Nvidia’s AI Chips Designed for Scientific Discovery

Nvidia’s AI chips, including the Blackwell series, are the backbone of these supercomputers. They are engineered to power complex AI models that drive technological innovation and scientific breakthroughs. The chips enable scientists to perform advanced simulations and data analysis, supporting research into alternative energy sources and national security.

Collaboration with Industry Leaders: Expanding AI Supercomputing Ecosystem

Nvidia’s partnership with Oracle is a cornerstone of this initiative, combining their expertise to deliver the DOE’s largest AI supercomputer. Oracle will provide AI computing resources leveraging a combination of Nvidia Hopper and Blackwell architectures, ensuring DOE researchers have immediate access to world-class AI infrastructure.

Beyond the DOE collaboration, Nvidia is expanding its presence in the AI communications market with a $1 billion investment in Nokia and the introduction of new Arc products designed for 6G wireless data technology. These moves signify Nvidia’s ambition to extend its technological leadership beyond core data center customers into emerging markets.

The company’s collaboration with Argonne National Laboratory also includes deploying three new AI computing systems—Minerva, Janus, and Tara—built with support from Nvidia, HPE, and World Wide Technology (WWT). These systems are tailored to accelerate AI inference and workforce development, further strengthening the nation’s AI infrastructure.

Driving Technological Leadership through New and Creative Partnerships

The expansion of Nvidia’s partnerships underscores the AI race’s demands for new and creative partnerships that integrate industries American technology offers. These collaborations enable the development of advanced AI supercomputing systems that support scientific research, energy applications, and technological innovation on a national scale.

Building Advanced Supercomputers: Accelerating Scientific Breakthroughs

Nvidia’s seven new AI supercomputers for the U.S. Energy Department represent a significant leap in computing capacity online faster than ever before. The Solstice system stands as the largest AI supercomputer in the DOE national lab complex, delivering high-performance AI capabilities that empower scientists to run complex AI models.

The Blackwell chips powering these systems support research into alternative energy sources and the maintenance of the nuclear weapons arsenal, demonstrating the critical role of AI supercomputers for U.S. national security and energy innovation.

These advanced supercomputers provide shared computing power that accelerates scientific breakthroughs and maintains America’s technological leadership. By integrating frontier AI systems with DOE’s vast network of scientific instruments and data assets, these systems enable agentic AI workflows that transform research methodologies.

The Impact of AI Supercomputers on Energy and Security

The deployment of AI supercomputers at the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility exemplifies the DOE’s commitment to leveraging AI for complex challenges. These systems will enable researchers to develop new frontier models that enhance energy research, national security, and healthcare research, reflecting a comprehensive approach to scientific discovery.

Global Expansion and Ambitions: Maintaining America’s Position in the AI Race

Nvidia’s ambitions extend beyond domestic partnerships. CEO Jensen Huang emphasizes the importance of engaging China’s developer base, despite current export restrictions on Nvidia’s AI chips designed for the Chinese market. Huang argues that access to this market is vital for funding U.S.-based research and development to maintain the company’s technological edge.

The company’s expansion into the AI communications market and wireless data technology aligns with its goal to drive technological leadership globally. Nvidia’s partnerships with other companies enable the development of advanced AI supercomputing systems that support scientific research and alternative energy sources worldwide.

Navigating Global Challenges in AI Technology

Nvidia’s strategy reflects the complex geopolitical landscape of AI technology, balancing America’s leadership in AI with the need to collaborate globally. The company’s investments and partnerships demonstrate a commitment to securing America’s position in the AI race while fostering innovation through new computing capacity and advanced AI capabilities.

Key Partners and Their Contributions

Partner	Role and Contribution	Notable Quote
Nvidia	Building AI supercomputers with advanced AI infrastructure; providing AI chips and computing expertise	"AI is the most powerful technology of our time, and science is its greatest frontier.” – Jensen Huang, Nvidia CEO. Learn more about leading edge computing for AI inferences and its impact on the future of artificial intelligence.
U.S. Department of Energy	Facilitating public-private partnerships; providing research facilities and scientific expertise	“Winning the AI race requires new and creative partnerships.” – Chris Wright, U.S. Secretary of Energy
Oracle	Delivering AI computing resources; supporting AI infrastructure integration	“Our collaboration at Argonne will provide a critical resource to address the nation's most complex challenges.” – Clay Magouyrk, Oracle CEO
Argonne National Laboratory	Hosting supercomputers; enabling access to forefront DOE experimental facilities	“This system will seamlessly connect to forefront DOE experimental facilities.” – Paul Kearns, Argonne Director
Nokia	Expanding AI communications market; developing 6G wireless technology	“We’re going to upgrade millions of base stations around the world.” – Jensen Huang, Nvidia CEO

Conclusion

Nvidia’s initiative to build AI supercomputers for the U.S. Energy Department marks a pivotal moment in the AI race, combining advanced AI infrastructure, scientific and computing expertise, and new and creative partnerships. The Solstice and Equinox systems, powered by Nvidia’s Blackwell chips, represent the forefront of AI technology, delivering groundbreaking capabilities for scientific research, energy applications, and national security.

This collaboration not only accelerates scientific breakthroughs but also ensures America maintains its leadership in AI and technological innovation. By integrating frontier AI systems with DOE’s extensive scientific resources, Nvidia and its partners are setting a new standard for AI supercomputing that will drive discovery and innovation for years to come.

As the global AI landscape evolves, Nvidia’s strategic partnerships and expansion efforts underscore the critical role of advanced AI infrastructure in shaping the future of science, energy, and technology.