We continue profiling our 2021-22 leadership:  This month’s Feature Member is our Vice President, Aqeel Adenwala.

Please note your affiliation and years of experience in the energy and/or environmental field. 

I am a manager at Energy Ventures Analysis Inc. (EVA), an energy consulting firm located in Arlington, VA. My main areas of focus are power and renewables. I have been with EVA since 2011. At EVA, I lead consulting projects and publications related to power and renewables in the US.

Any particular achievement/interest in energy/environment you would like to mention?

My job allows me to work on delivering various solutions to our clients, be it determining price of power for the next month or providing a long-term market outlook to help plan for a decarbonized future. However, the topic that I am most interested in is analyzing the path to carbon neutrality using the technologies currently available to us and the cost of achieving this goal.

In your opinion, what are important issues facing the energy industry nowadays?

Decarbonization has been the buzzword at every energy event, and it is an issue that will determine future energy policies not just in the US but across the globe. However, the most critical issue facing our industry it to achieve decarbonization while maintaining resiliency and reliability of the energy system and keeping costs low for consumers. A winter storm or extreme heat during the summer quickly exposes the shortcomings of our energy systems. These problems will only become bigger as we introduce more volatility by expanding renewable footprint. Finding a solution that keeps the lights on while cleaning up the environment piques my interest.

How long have you been a member of NCAC? Any particular NCAC memory you would like to share with us?

I have been a member of NCAC since 2015 and been on the board for the past 4 years. I am currently serving as the Vice-President of the organization and will be leading the efforts to organize the Annual Conference. NCAC brings together experts from all corners of the energy industry and allows an open dialogue on innovative ideas and solutions for issues that the industry is facing right now. Moderating a panel during the 2021 Annual Conference on the topic of Energy Modeling was a great experience for me. The speakers discussed the topic from their perspective and provided valuable insights that left the audience intrigued.