Technical Speakers 2022

Drake Hernandez is a senior associate in the Energy Practice at CRA. He is an energy economist with expertise at the intersection of economics, regulation, and finance – with an emphasis on the hydrogen, natural gas, and electric power sectors.

Drake focuses on advising global clients as they develop strategies related to energy market economics and infrastructure development. Drake also supports the development of expert testimony for domestic litigation and international arbitration disputes related to energy markets and infrastructure.

Prior to his current role, Drake was a graduate research assistant in the MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI). Drake was a co-author on the MITEI Future of Storage study and the architect of the hydrogen production techno-economic analysis (TEA) module of the Sustainable Energy Systems Modeling Analysis Environment (SESAME). His thesis focused on modeling hydrogen network dynamics and assessing federal regulatory frameworks for the development of interstate hydrogen transmission infrastructure within the United States.

Drake’s work has been published in Utility Dive, Applied Energy and other commercial and academic texts. Drake has also been invited to speak both domestically and internationally on matters related to the regulation of hydrogen and energy system planning.

Drake earned a Master of Science in Technology and Policy, with a focus on Energy Economics and Finance, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, with a focus on Operations Research and Economics, from the University of Texas at Austin.