Empowering Appalachia: WVU's Breakthrough in Smart Grid Technology

 

Submitted photo In collaboration with Appalachian Regional Commission, Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering department chair Anurag Srivastava will manage WVU’s research on smart utility grid technology

West Virginia University (WVU) has secured a substantial $1.5 million grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to pioneer smart grid solutions and modeling services in rural parts of the eastern United States.

This ambitious initiative spearheaded by WVU will culminate in the establishment of the Smart Grid Deployment Consortium and the HILLTOP+ Platform. These platforms are poised to conduct extensive testing and modeling of storage technology within smart grids. Furthermore, they aim to aid rural electric utilities by devising evaluation tools for energy storage solutions.

The funding for this groundbreaking project stems from ARC’s Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies, a program aimed at fostering regional economic transformation through collaborative efforts across multiple states.

Anurag Srivastava, the Chair of WVU’s Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, will lead the university’s research endeavors in this project. Collaborating alongside Srivastava are esteemed faculty members Parviz Famouri and Sarika Khushalani-Solanki from LCSEE, along with Aboubakr Salem and Kenan Hatipoglu from WVU Tech.

Expressing enthusiasm, Srivastava stated, “We are honored by this grant, and we eagerly anticipate collaborating with our exceptional team. This funding will enable us to drive innovation in energy storage and grid integration, paving the way for a more sustainable and resilient energy future.”

The consortium involves a collective effort with several universities and organizations, spearheaded by Tennessee Tech University. Partnerships span across Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Tennessee. Michael Aikens, Director of Tennessee Tech’s Center for Rural Innovation, highlighted the collaborative efforts by stating, “Together, we are taking significant strides toward a more sustainable and resilient future for the Appalachian region.”

Srivastava emphasized the critical role of developing technology in supporting the deployment of utility-scale batteries for rural utility cooperatives in Tennessee, Georgia, and Ohio. This technology aims to equip these cooperatives with the necessary resources to manage the risks associated with integrating new technologies. The ultimate goal is widespread distribution and integration to leverage renewable energy sources, diversify power sources, and enhance the utility grid’s resilience.

Highlighting the significance of energy storage in enabling a diversified energy mix, Srivastava pointed out its pivotal role in managing the intermittency of renewable energy sources like solar and wind. He emphasized the need for a balanced energy mix, encompassing clean coal, hydro, gas, nuclear, solar, and wind, with storage solutions acting as a crucial enabler in ensuring consistent and affordable energy generation for everyone.