Multi-layer diffusion model of photovoltaic installations

Abstract

Nowadays, harmful effects of climate change are becoming increasingly apparent. A vital issue that must be addressed is the generation of energy from non-renewable and often polluted sources. For this reason, the development of renewable energy sources is of great importance. Unfortunately, too rapid spread of renewables can disrupt stability of the power system and lead to energy blackouts. One should not simply support it, without ensuring sustainability and understanding of the diffusion process. In this research, we propose a new agent-based model of diffusion of photovoltaic panels. It is an extension of the $q$-voter model that utilizes multi-layer network structure. The model is analyzed by Monte Carlo simulations and mean-field approximation. The impact of parameters and specifications on the basic properties of the model is discussed.