ABSTRACT
Nowadays, a fundamental requirement for a prosperous society is a reliable energy supply. The complex network theory provides an excellent basis to explore the functionality of such systems in response to severe component failures. In this case study, the European natural gas system is analyzed. The actual natural gas consumption is geospatially allocated to the infrastructure network. The network is abstracted and the flow capacity of the network is computed. A scenario analysis is conducted in order to identify the impact of storage facilities on the actual maximum possible flow. Furthermore, the natural gas supply shortage caused by each pipeline in case of a potential pipeline shut-down or failure is estimated. Finally, potential strategic locations of storage facilities for a more reliable natural gas network are identified.
