WVU experts explain how federal ‘Engines’ funding for region’s energy industry can keep heat on and lower winter utility bills

In West Virginia and western Pennsylvania, winter weather threatens the stability of the power grid and drives up heating bills. WVU scholars of grid stability and geothermal energy say National Science Foundation funding could give the region the tools to solve those problems. (WVU Photo/Jennifer Shephard)

Winter is no wonderland for many Appalachian homes and businesses now struggling with utility bills and facing the prospect of losing heat if ice storms or increased demand for power bring down the electric grid.

Expert pitch: Micaela Morrissette, Director, WVU Research Communications
Photos by Jennifer Shephard and Brian Persinger

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

A West Virginia University electrical engineer and geologist say the solutions for problems like those already exist, ranging from AI-assisted grid management to geothermal heat pumps.

Anurag Srivastava, professor and chairperson, Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, WVU Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, and Shikha Sharma, chief scientific officer, WVU Institute for Sustainability and Energy Research, and Marshall S. Miller Energy Professor of Geology, Department of Geology and Geography, WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, are available to discuss the heating challenges posed by winter weather, the new technologies available for meeting those challenges, and the transformative benefits potential federal funding could enable for the energy industry in West Virginia and western Pennsylvania. 

Quotes:

“Winter creates multiple, simultaneous stresses. First is a spike in electricity demand. When temperatures plunge, homes and businesses turn on electric heating, heat pumps and backup systems almost at once. This sudden surge forces power plants and grid operators to respond immediately. At the same time, extreme cold can reduce the performance of critical assets. Battery energy storage systems — which are still not well integrated into the grid but are increasingly relied on as fast-response reserves — lose capacity in cold temperatures, precisely when they are needed most.

“Second, winter storms threaten physical infrastructure. Ice accumulation on power lines, high winds and falling trees can cause equipment failures and power outages. Even short outages can have serious consequences: frozen pipes and health risks for households, production losses for businesses, and reduced reliability for hospitals, emergency services and communications systems.

“Electric costs may also rise. When utilities must rely on expensive peaking generators or emergency fuel supplies during cold snaps, those costs can eventually flow through to customers.

“Technology is improving our weather resilience, however. The energy sector is increasingly turning to advanced tools, including ‘physics-aware’ artificial intelligence that enables human grid operators or automated control devices to make faster, safer decisions.

“Currently, the National Science Foundation is considering the Resilient Energy Technology and Infrastructure Consortium, led by WVU with partners Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh, as one of 15 national finalists for Regional Innovation Engines funds that would help us translate innovative technologies like physics-aware AI into practical solutions for keeping our power on throughout winters to come.

“If RETI receives the NSF award, those funds will help us improve our grid flexibility, forecasting, impact analysis and asset utilization. The result will be reduced risk of winter outages and control over long-term electricity costs, strengthening energy security for West Virginians and Pennsylvanians.” — Anurag Srivastava, professor and chairperson, Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, WVU Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

“In winter, many households that rely on conventional heating systems powered by electricity, propane or natural gas experience service disruptions, inefficient heating and spikes in power bills.

“Ground-source geothermal systems present those households with an alternative. Geothermal energy uses the Earth’s constant subsurface temperature to deliver reliable heat during extreme cold, reducing dependence on volatile fuels. Geothermal heat pumps operate at much higher efficiency than conventional home heating systems and can lower monthly heating bills, minimizing exposure to price spikes and the risk of service disruptions during peak winter demand.

“At the residential scale, geothermal heating systems are inherently safe and healthy, as they eliminate combustion-related hazards such as carbon monoxide exposure, indoor air pollution and gas leaks.

“Geothermal power is a natural evolution of West Virginia’s energy legacy. For more than a century, the state’s energy economy has been built on fossil fuel extraction, and the core technologies required for unconventional geothermal systems — directional drilling, hydraulic stimulation and advanced reservoir characterization — are direct extensions of existing industry expertise and infrastructure. The WVU Geothermal Team has demonstrated that enhanced geothermal heat resources are present in the Morgantown area and across much of north central, central and northeastern West Virginia that are viable for large-scale district heating and cooling as well as potential electrification. 

“The immediate future of geothermal energy in the Appalachian Basin will depend in large part on whether the Resilient Energy Technology and Infrastructure Consortium, which represents a network of energy industry partners throughout West Virginia and western Pennsylvania, is successful in its bid to secure a National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines award. The NSF Engines funding is intended to advance energy technology and grid resilience. If it comes to our region, it can support the development of geothermal resources for direct-use heating and possibly even electricity generation by supporting the siting, drilling and pilot-scale demonstrations that are needed to establish viable geothermal infrastructure here.” — Shikha Sharma, chief scientific officer, WVU Institute for Sustainability and Energy Research, Marshall S. Miller Energy Professor of Geology, Department of Geology and Geography, WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences

West Virginia University experts can provide commentary, insights and opinions on various news topics. Search for an expert by name, title, area of expertise or college/school/department in the Experts Database at WVUToday.

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