Structural vulnerability of energy distribution systems: Incorporating infrastructural dependencies

In this paper a novel method for assessing the structural vulnerability of two coupled energy distribution systems is presented. The co-existing of an electric power distribution system and a district heating system is described and modelled, under the assumption that the operation of the district heating system is directly dependent on electric power. The structural vulnerability of the two systems subject to single failures or a set of simultaneous failures in the power system is found. Thus, the consequences of power system failures for the energy supply as a whole are quantified.