Escort: DC optimisation for production cost estimation

Escort is a mathematically-rigorous model that allows substantial flexibility to model different aspects of National Grid´s (UK) commercial operation of the grid system. Escort estimates the production cost of operating a transmission network over a period of time, and the economic effects of changes to this network. It uses a security constrained MW optimisation program to simulate the steady state economics of the network, repeated simulations of the system with different demand levels and plant outages being combined to give an expected value for the total running cost of the system. It has proved its worth in being able to simulate the continually changing operational practices following privatisation of the UK electricity supply industry