Amidst the rapid surge in demand for AI servers driven by the AI boom, edge computing has emerged as the new focal point in the market landscape.
Canada-based Green Edge Computing Corp (GECCO), established in 2021 in Vancouver, aims to bridge the gap between conventional computing at the edge and rack-mount servers in the cloud, with its flagship AI-enabling product: the EdgePod. Speaking to DIGITIMES Asia, Rudi Carolsfeld, Co-Founder, Director, and CRO of GECCO, elaborated on the company's mission and the significance of their category-defining product in various industries.
Wide range of edge computing scenarios
"Our focus is on providing advanced computing infrastructure," Carolsfeld stated. "Many companies face challenges in adopting artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and other advanced computing resources due to the requirement for server-class computing, which demands significant electricity and cooling infrastructure."
Carolsfeld explained that GECCO aims to address this challenge by introducing the concept of a miniaturized computing appliance for the edge, known as an Edge Computing Appliance. "Our EdgePod contains everything needed for advanced computing in a compact form factor, offering security, connectivity, processing power, data storage, and networking connections," he added.
Regarding potential applications, Carolsfeld highlighted the versatility of the EdgePod, stating, "From the international space station to retail stores, there is a growing demand for computing capacity to run complex software programs. The EdgePod can be installed anywhere without requiring specialized power or cooling infrastructure, accelerating the transition from installation on Day Zero to fully operational on Day One."
When discussing GECCO's supply chain, Carolsfeld highlights the company's collaboration with several component manufacturers and contract manufacturing partners that are onshoring production in North America.
"While there is pressure to ensure secure supply chains in North America, especially post-pandemic, our solution is designed to adapt to market demands," he explained. "We anticipate opportunities for our solution globally, with Asia-Pacific markets being particularly receptive."
Carolsfeld acknowledged Taiwan's reputation for high-quality products and components, citing it as a potential technology partner for GECCO. "Taiwan offers advanced technology and a positive mindset towards innovation, making it a rich source of potential partnerships as we develop our market presence globally," he concluded.
Energy saver
The EdgePod, with its energy-efficient design, consumes as little as 250W of power when fully loaded with four servers, a switch, and data storage. In contrast, conventional servers may consume between 250W and 500W each, resulting in a total consumption of more than 1000W for a comparable setup. This translates to an energy saving of 75% or more for clients using EdgePods.
According to the EIA, one kWh of energy in the North American generating fuel mix releases about 0.4 kg of CO2. Therefore, running an EdgePod continuously at 250W for a year would lead to an annual reduction of 2.6 tons of CO2 compared to a conventional system.
A traditional cloud data center, hosting thousands of servers along with additional power requirements for cooling, emits significantly higher Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. Installing 1000 EdgePods as nano-scale data centers on the edge, where data is generated and consumed, could avoid an estimated 5000 tons of GHG emissions per year.
Enable new technology
Carolsfeld emphasized the role of EdgePods as an enabling technology for various edge computing applications, such as AI, machine learning, and augmented reality. By simplifying deployment processes and accelerating the transition from Day Zero to Day One, EdgePods facilitate the implementation of advanced technologies across diverse environments.
In addition, their capabilities contribute to reducing ongoing operational costs and ensuring efficient maintenance, further enhancing their value proposition for clients.
