British start-up Vaire Computing is in the process of creating the world's inaugural 'reversible computing' Glacier Chip. This innovative chip has the capability to recycle input energy, thereby curbing power consumption. In standard chips, electrical energy transforms into non-functional heat post-computation, compelling data centers to implement measures such as water cooling to avert server overheating. With the enhancement of chip performance, the environmental and energy repercussions of this wasted heat are set to escalate. The Glacier Chip reengineers two inefficient facets of contemporary chip operations: information erasure loss and voltage switching loss.

In August of this year, the company carried out a proof-of-concept test on the chip. The results revealed that, when executing identical tasks, the Glacier Chip diminished power consumption by 30% in comparison to ordinary chips with similar performance, while also delivering superior thermal efficiency. Nevertheless, this technology is still confronted with hurdles, including sluggish adiabatic computing processes, elevated costs, and the imperative to enhance heat recovery efficiency.