Neel Kulkarni joined ECA in September 2024 post his Master’s at UCL. He has venture capital experience from Two Magnolias, focusing on deal flow strategies and due diligence in sustainability and human health, and at Avaana Capital, where he analyzed India’s green hydrogen strategy. Neel holds an MSci in Chemistry and an MSc in Energy and Environment Economics at UCL. His MSci research was on green technologies and Hittorf’s phosphorus, an optoelectronic material. He did an MSc on energy economics, modeling, and game theory. His thesis analyzed trade versus geopolitics in securing the UK’s critical mineral supply chains.

James Haynes joined in October 2024 from Aurora Energy Research, where he worked as an Energy Modeller. This involved the development and maintenance of power market models for Europe, including working on pieces such as analyzing the impact of the hydrogen economy on the GB power market and an investment case for batteries in Southeastern Europe. James was awarded a Master’s in Operational Research from the University of Edinburgh and a Bachelor’s in Economics from Trinity College in Dublin.

Both Neel and James have extensive experience in the fields of energy markets, sustainability, and data-driven analysis that we are excited to see the contribution they make at ECA!