%0 Conference Paper
%A Valori, Luca
%A Giannuzzi, Giovanni Luca
%A Squartini, Tiziano
%A Garlaschelli, Diego
%A Basosi, Riccardo
%B 25th International Conference on Efficiency, Cost, Optimization and Simulation of Energy Conversion Systems and Processes
%C Perugia
%D 2012
%F eprints:2815
%I Firenze University press
%P 72-89
%T Complex Networks Approach to the Italian Photovoltaic Energy Distribution System
%U http://eprints.imtlucca.it/2815/
%X One problem in the study of the Italian electric energy supply scenario is determining the ability of  photovoltaic production to provide a constant and stable energy background over space and time. Knowing  how the photovoltaic energy produced in a given node diffuses on the power grid is of crucial importance. A  smart grid able to face peaks of load must be designed. Approached here from a complex systems point of  view, the network of energy supply might be represented by a graph in which nodes are Italian municipalities  and edges cross the administrative boundaries from a municipality to its first neighbours. Using datasets  from ISTAT, GSE and ENEA, the node production and attraction of photovoltaic energy have been estimated  with high accuracy. The attraction index was built using demographic data, in accordance with medium per  capita energy consumption data. Moreover, the energy produced in each node could be determined using  data on the installed photovoltaic power and on local solar radiation. The available energy on each node was  calculated by running a distributive model assuming that the energy produced in one node which diffuses to  its first neighbours is proportional to the attraction index of the latter. Therefore the available energy at each  node is the sum of many contributions, coming from topological paths involving all the other nodes across  the network. The availability of cross temporal data on the photovoltaic power installed on the Italian territory  also make it possible to understand the evolution of the available photovoltaic energy landscape over time.