On Energy distribution in cities: A model based on complex networks

Abstract

Rapid urbanization and the remarkable energy consumption deriving from urban areas require the definition of proper urban energy strategies for the achievement of energy efficiency. In the last year, Decentralized Energy Systems (DESs) have gained attention from the scientific community and from the local governments, since they allow the on-site production of energy, thus improving the efficiency of the energy systems by reducing energetic wastes and energy losses on transmission lines. Yet, the diffusion of DESs gives rise to energy interactions among users, defined as energy subjects with certain energy demand and with the chance to install autonomous energy generation systems. In order to consider the energy exchanges originating from those interactions, a mathematical procedure based on complex networks is strengthen. The elaborated method is then applied on a speculative territory in order to determine the optimal energy flows occurring between each node pair. Thus, the constructed model aims to be an advantageous tool for the proper definition of urban energy action plans focusing on the insertion of DESs on the urban territory.