Drake Hernandez

Drake Hernandez is Senior Fellow at the Tulane Energy Law & Policy Center (the "Center") and member of the Center's Global Research Council. His research and professional interests center on the commercialization of global carbon capture, utilization, and storage ("CCUS") and low-carbon fuels projects, particularly at the intersection of techno-commercial due diligence, infrastructure development, and regulatory strategy.

In addition to his role at the Center, Mr. Hernandez is an Associate Principal in Charles River Associates’ (CRA) Energy Practice, where he leads the firm’s low-carbon fuels and CCUS advisory work. Mr. Hernandez advises global clients, including multinational energy companies, investors, and project developers, on investment strategy, regulatory risk, and project commercialization in the energy and infrastructure sectors. He specializes in the techno-commercial evaluation of cross-border energy projects, leveraging his expertise in market and policy analysis to support strategic decision-making. His work focuses on the economic and commercial dimensions of project development, helping clients assess investment viability, navigate regulatory complexity, and structure contractual relationships to support long-term project success.

In parallel, Mr. Hernandez serves as testifying expert in energy and infrastructure-related disputes. He has testified in contested proceedings and regulatory hearings, providing commercial context and quantifying damages, including asset valuations in the context of contract breaches and investment disputes. His dispute-related work spans the full spectrum of the energy sector, including low-carbon fuels, electric power, LNG, natural gas, and oil.

Apart from his work at CRA, holds active leadership roles within the Association of International Energy Negotiators ("AIEN"). His work has been published in Applied Energy, the Energy Law Journal, Utility Dive, and other commercial and academic journals. Drake regularly speaks both domestically and internationally on matters related to the regulation of low-carbon fuel infrastructure, low-carbon fuel market development, and energy system planning.