Resumen de Topological complexity of the electricity transmission network. Implications in the sustainability paradigm
This Thesis explores the structure, dynamics and evolution of the electricity transmission network from a complex systems perspective, its main objective being the definition of new criteria and tools to help to design a more efficient and sustainable transmission power grid, In doing so, two data sets have been explored and analyzed. On one hand, the Union for the Coordination of Transport of Electricity (UCTE) network, which associates most of the continental Europe national power grid operators in order to coordinate the production and demand of some annual 2300 TWh of energy and 450 million customers from 24 countries. On the other hand, the Gestionaire du Réseau du Transport d'Electricité (RTE) transport network historical evolution, responsible for operating, maintaining and developing the biggest national network in Europe, the French electricity transmission network.
The results obtained so far show statistically significant dissimilarities in the structure of the power grids, clearly defining and enclosing particular dynamic behaviors that enable us to segregate European networks in two sets, namely fragile and robust. Fragile networks are characterized by meshed topologies and non random structures while robust ones share more randomly generated topologies. The consequences of these finding for the sustainability of infrastructure networks are significant in terms of cost and risk assessment. A model for the evolution of a power grid network is also presented. We suggest that global topological fragility increases when local connectivity schemes are adapted in order to increase local reliability.
These outcomes appeal for new power grid design methods and tools capable to include these new topological aspects into efficiency and reliability assessments.
