BRG Adds Low-Carbon Fuels Expert Drake Hernandez as Director in Energy & Climate Practice

BRG today announced that Drake Hernandez has joined the firm’s Energy & Climate practice as a director based in BRG’s Boston and Houston offices. He is an economic consultant who specializes in complex energy and infrastructure disputes and commercial advisory, with a focus on low-carbon fuels and solutions, including hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, renewable natural gas (RNG), and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS).

Mr. Hernandez brings experience across the global energy value chain, including in the natural gas, electric power, renewable power, liquefied natural gas, RNG, industrial gases, and oil markets. He has advised clients in high-stakes litigation and arbitration matters in the United States, Canada, and globally and under forums including ICC, ICDR, AAA, and JAMS, providing expert analysis and testimony on damages, valuation, and commercial issues. He also advises corporate and investor clients on the evaluation and development of energy and infrastructure projects worldwide, with particular emphasis on cross-border, low-carbon projects and techno-commercial due diligence.

“Drake combines deep technical knowledge of emerging low-carbon energy solutions with hands-on experience advising clients through market, regulatory, and policy uncertainty,” said Christopher Goncalves, chair of BRG’s Energy & Climate practice. “As energy markets grapple with price volatility, evolving climate policy, and the challenges of scaling hydrogen and other clean fuels from concept to bankable projects, Drake’s expertise in both dispute resolution and project commercialization significantly enhances our ability to help clients navigate the energy transition.”

Mr. Hernandez’s work spans techno-economic analysis, project valuation, and commercialization strategy for low-carbon energy projects including hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, RNG, and CCUS. He has led or supported commercial due diligence for investors evaluating clean fuel production facilities, subsea transmission infrastructure, combined heat and power assets, nuclear-related assets, and other energy infrastructure in North America and Europe. He also has extensive experience with market forecasting, regulatory and policy analysis, and tariff and cost-of-service issues relevant to gas and power infrastructure.

“In today’s energy environment, companies and investors are under pressure to deliver reliable energy, reduce emissions, and deploy capital into projects that can withstand regulatory and market scrutiny,” said Mr. Hernandez. “BRG’s Energy & Climate team brings together world-class disputes, regulatory, and commercial expertise. I am excited to work with colleagues across the firm to help clients assess risk, structure investments, and advance low-carbon projects that are both economically robust and resilient to changing market conditions.”

Mr. Hernandez’s research and thought leadership on hydrogen, low-carbon fuels, and energy transition topics has been published in outlets including Applied Energy, Energy Law Journal, Utility Dive, and other industry and policy platforms. He regularly speaks at conferences and forums across North America, Europe, and Asia on low-carbon fuels market development and project commercialization, regulatory frameworks, and clean fuel economics. He serves as a senior fellow and member of the Global Research Council at the Tulane Energy Law & Policy Center.

Mr. Hernandez holds a BS in mechanical engineering (operations research) from the University of Texas at Austin and an SM in technology and policy (energy) from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a member of the Association of International Energy Negotiators (AIEN) and has served as a consulting and testifying expert in matters before courts and regulatory bodies in North America and Europe.