1) McKinsey & Company – Global Energy & Materials
Founders: James O. McKinsey
Founded: 1926
Headquarters: New York, NY, USA
Product Categories: Energy transition strategy, power & renewables, oil & gas upstream/downstream, hydrogen & CCUS, grid & flexibility, advanced analytics & digital
Description :
McKinsey advises national oil companies, utilities, IPPs and heavy industry on decarbonization and value creation. Its Energy & Materials practice builds net‑zero roadmaps, optimizes portfolios, and unlocks operational excellence through AI‑enabled maintenance and supply‑chain redesign. The firm is widely cited for forward energy scenarios and abatement cost curves that help boards allocate capital toward renewables, storage, hydrogen, and efficiency. Delivery teams pair strategy with hands‑on execution, from clean‑power procurements to performance transformations that compress outages and improve capacity factors.
Key Features:
- Net‑zero and transition pathway design
- Power market modeling and LCOE benchmarking
- O&G value chain optimization and asset productivity
- Hydrogen/CCUS commercialization and hubs
- Digital twins and predictive maintenance programs
2) Boston Consulting Group (BCG) – Energy Practice
Founder: Bruce D. Henderson
Founded: 1963
Headquarters: Boston, MA, USA
Product Categories: Energy & utilities strategy, renewables and storage, grid modernization, e‑mobility, sustainable operations, climate & sustainability
Description :
BCG partners with utilities, developers, and OEMs to accelerate decarbonization and growth. The firm’s energy models inform investment in renewables, flexibility, and prosumer ecosystems, while operations teams deliver outage reduction and DER integration. BCG helps utilities modernize grid operations, design tariff and flexibility markets, and build new businesses in EV charging and distributed energy. Its climate practice embeds Scope 1–3 accounting and supplier engagement to ensure verifiable emissions reductions.
Key Features:
- Grid modernization and DER orchestration
- Storage, hybrid plants and PPAs structuring
- EV charging ecosystem strategy
- Supplier decarbonization and Scope 3 programs
- Advanced analytics for load/price forecasting
3) Bain & Company – Energy & Natural Resources
Founder: William W. Bain Jr.
Founded: 1973
Headquarters: Boston, MA, USA
Product Categories: Portfolio strategy, renewables growth, O&G performance, trading & risk, customer transformation, M&A/value creation
Description :
Bain focuses on pragmatic value creation in energy transitions-helping clients scale renewables platforms, transform trading and risk, and capture efficiencies in O&G operations. Bain’s PE heritage supports buy‑side and sell‑side due diligence in utilities, IPPs, networks, and new energy tech. Its customer practice improves utility CX, rate design, and digital sales, translating into higher retention and DER adoption.
Key Features:
- Energy M&A and value‑creation playbooks
- Trading, hedging and risk operating models
- OPEX/CAPEX optimization for legacy assets
- Renewable platform build‑out and partnerships
- Customer & tariff design transformation
4) Accenture – Energy & Utilities
Founders: Originated as Andersen Consulting; no single founder
Founded: 1989 (as Andersen Consulting); 2001 (Accenture)
Headquarters: Dublin, Ireland
Product Categories: Digital grid/AMI, asset management, field mobility, cloud & data, cybersecurity, trading platforms, sustainability services
Description :
Accenture delivers large‑scale technology and operating‑model transformations for utilities, O&G, and new‑energy companies. It implements digital grid and AMI platforms, predictive asset performance, cloud data lakes, and market/trading systems. Accenture’s scale enables multi‑region rollouts, while its sustainability services bring emissions data, circularity, and responsible supply‑chain controls into daily operations.
Key Features:
- Enterprise‑grade grid and market systems
- APM, digital twins and field mobility at scale
- Cloud/data modernization and cybersecurity
- Retail energy and CX platforms
- Emissions data and ESG integration
5) Deloitte – Energy, Resources & Industrials
Founder: William Welch Deloitte
Founded: 1845 (firm origins)
Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Product Categories: Strategy & decarbonization, capital projects, risk & controls, market modeling, tax & regulatory, reporting/assurance
Description :
Deloitte combines board‑level strategy with deep controls, tax, and reporting. It supports integrated resource plans, market entry, and green‑capex governance; builds program controls for capital megaprojects; and implements audit‑ready emissions reporting aligned with evolving standards. Its power market modeling and securitization expertise help finance transition while protecting ratepayers.
Key Features:
- IRP design and market modeling
- Capital project controls/assurance (EPC to O&M)
- Commodity trading/risk controls and audit
- ESG reporting and assurance readiness
- Tax, incentives and financing optimization
6) EY – Energy & Resources
Founders: Arthur Young; Alwin C. Ernst
Founded: 1989 (merger)
Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Product Categories: Energy transition strategy, power & utilities, O&G transformation, sustainable finance, reporting & assurance, cyber
Description :
EY advises on capital allocation to low‑carbon assets, unbundling strategies, and utility/retail convergence while embedding robust governance. It connects sustainable finance frameworks with investor‑grade reporting, enabling access to green capital. EY’s cyber teams secure grid, market, and field operations in increasingly digitalized energy systems.
Key Features:
- Transition strategy and portfolio reshaping
- Sustainable finance and taxonomies
- Investor‑grade climate/nature disclosures
- Grid/market cybersecurity and resilience
- Operating‑model and shared‑services redesign
7) KPMG – Energy & Natural Resources
Founders: Piet Klynveld, William Barclay Peat, James Marwick, Reinhard Goerdeler
Founded: 1987 (merger)
Headquarters: Amstelveen, Netherlands
Product Categories: Market reform & regulation, M&A and valuation, risk & compliance, decarbonization programs, data & analytics
Description :
KPMG supports investors, regulators, and utilities with market design, regulatory strategy, and transaction advisory. Its valuation and deal teams assess generation, networks, and distributed energy plays, while decarbonization specialists deliver credible pathways and performance dashboards.
Key Features:
- Power market reform and tariff design
- Transaction advisory and valuation models
- Regulatory strategy and compliance
- Emissions dashboards and performance KPIs
- Data governance and audit alignment
8) PwC – Energy, Utilities & Resources
Founders: Origins in Price Waterhouse & Coopers & Lybrand; multiple founders
Founded: 1998 (merger)
Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Product Categories: Deals and value creation, operating model, reporting & assurance, cost takeout, ESG & climate, supply chain
Description :
PwC helps utilities and energy companies execute complex deals, restructure portfolios, and meet evolving disclosure requirements. It builds operating models for distributed energy, implements cost‑to‑serve reductions in retail energy, and prepares audit‑ready ESG/CSRD reporting.
Key Features:
- Value‑creation plans for energy transactions
- Retail/behind‑the‑meter operating models
- Scope 1–3 reporting and assurance
- Supply‑chain resilience and localization
- Rate‑case and regulatory support
9) Guidehouse (including legacy Navigant)
Founders: Formed from PwC Public Sector; expanded via Navigant acquisition; no single founder
Founded: 2018 (Guidehouse brand)
Headquarters: Washington, DC, USA
Product Categories: Energy programs, DER & demand‑side, grid modernization, market transformation, public‑sector funding, sustainability
Description :
Guidehouse is a leader in utility energy efficiency, demand response, and market transformation programs. It designs and administers portfolios that deliver verified savings, decarbonization, and equity outcomes. With deep public‑sector credentials, Guidehouse helps cities and states maximize federal funding, roll out building performance standards, and accelerate EV adoption.
Key Features:
- DSM/DER program design and implementation
- Beneficial electrification and equity‑first models
- Grid modernization strategy and pilots
- Funding strategy (federal/state) and compliance
- M&V and impact analytics
10) S&P Global Commodity Insights (incl. IHS Markit legacy)
Founders: IHS founded by Jerre Stead et al.; S&P legacy dates to 1860; current entity via mergers
Founded: 1959 (IHS origins); 2022 (integration into S&P Global)
Headquarters: New York, NY, USA
Product Categories: Energy market intelligence, price benchmarks, scenarios/forecasts, consulting studies, policy & regulation analysis
Description :
S&P Global Commodity Insights provides trusted benchmarks and outlooks for oil, gas, power, and low‑carbon fuels. Its consultants deliver custom market studies, price trajectory analysis, and policy impact assessments that underpin board decisions and project finance. Clients rely on its data to structure PPAs, hedge commodities, and size markets for hydrogen, SAF, and batteries.
Key Features:
- Authoritative benchmarks and price assessments
- Long‑term energy scenarios and LCOE/LCOH
- Policy/regulatory impact analytics
- Bankable market studies for finance
- PPA structuring and hedging insights
11) Rystad Energy
Founder: Jarand Rystad
Founded: 2004
Headquarters: Oslo, Norway
Product Categories: Upstream databases, renewables/solar/wind analytics, supply chain, emissions tracking, bespoke consulting
Description :
Rystad is known for granular asset‑level datasets across upstream and renewables. Its consulting teams perform market sizing, cost curves, and competitive benchmarking for developers, OEMs and financiers. Emissions modules quantify methane and carbon intensity, informing portfolio high‑grading and investor communications.
Key Features:
- Asset‑level cost and production curves
- Renewables supply‑chain and auction insights
- Methane and emissions tracking
- Bespoke market sizing and competitor analysis
- Frequent, transparent data updates
12) AFRY Management Consulting (ÅF + Pöyry)
Founders: ÅF (1895); Pöyry (1958); merged to AFRY 2019
Founded: 2019 (current brand)
Headquarters: Solna, Sweden
Product Categories: Power market modeling, auctions & regulation, biomass & bioenergy, hydrogen, networks & flexibility
Description :
AFRY advises governments, TSOs/DSOs, and investors on market design and investment under uncertainty. Its BID/market models support auctions, interconnection, and capacity mechanisms, while its bioenergy and hydrogen teams quantify viable pathways for hard‑to‑abate sectors.
Key Features:
- Recognized European power market models
- Auction design and regulatory support
- Hydrogen economics and infrastructure plans
- Biomass/bioenergy and CHP expertise
- Network planning and flexibility services
13) DNV – Energy Systems
Founders: Established by Norwegian marine insurers as Det Norske Veritas
Founded: 1864
Headquarters: Høvik, Norway
Product Categories: Power & renewables advisory, grid integration, certification, energy management, hydrogen & maritime decarbonization
Description :
DNV combines certification heritage with deep technical advisory. It certifies turbines and substations, validates grid integration, and de‑risks offshore wind and interconnector projects. DNV’s energy transition outlooks guide policy and investment, while hydrogen and maritime teams support fuel transitions and safety.
Key Features:
- Certification and bankability for projects
- Grid code compliance and integration studies
- Offshore wind and interconnector expertise
- Energy management and performance testing
- Hydrogen safety and standards development
14) Black & Veatch Management Consulting
Founders: Ernest Bateman Black; Nathan Thomas Veatch
Founded: 1915
Headquarters: Overland Park, KS, USA
Product Categories: Utility strategy, resource planning, rate & regulatory, DER/EV, resilience & hardening, market analytics
Description :
Black & Veatch MC bridges boardroom strategy with engineering execution. It develops integrated resource plans, grid modernization roadmaps, and resilience investments; advises on rates and performance‑based regulation; and designs DER/EV programs that align reliability, affordability, and decarbonization.
Key Features:
- IRP and portfolio optimization
- Resilience planning and hardening capex
- Rates, PBR and regulatory strategy
- EV infrastructure and managed charging
- Market analytics and production cost modeling
15) Oliver Wyman – Energy & Natural Resources
Founders: Alex Oliver, Bill Wyman
Founded: 1984
Headquarters: New York, NY, USA
Product Categories: Commodity trading & risk, utilities/retail energy, renewable growth, hydrogen, marine & aviation fuels
Description :
Oliver Wyman advises on trading/Risk, decarbonized fuels, and retail energy convergence. It designs target operating models for front‑to‑back trade processes, optimizes hedging, and develops new low‑carbon fuels businesses in hydrogen, ammonia and SAF-linking policy incentives with market uptake.
Key Features:
- Trading TOM and risk governance
- Retail energy product and pricing design
- Low‑carbon fuels strategy (H2/NH3/SAF)
- Asset commercialization and partnerships
- Stress testing and capital allocation
16) Kearney – Energy & Process Industries
Founder: Andrew Thomas Kearney
Founded: 1926
Headquarters: Chicago, IL, USA
Product Categories: Operations excellence, procurement, supply chain, refineries & petrochemicals, circularity, new energy
Description :
Kearney is known for operations and procurement transformations in energy and process industries. It delivers refinery and petrochemical turnaround excellence, carbon‑aware sourcing, and supply‑chain resiliency for renewables OEMs. Kearney’s pragmatic playbooks capture cash and carbon benefits quickly.
Key Features:
- Turnaround and reliability excellence
- Carbon‑smart procurement and supplier programs
- Supply‑chain resilience and localization
- OPEX/CAPEX transformation
- Circularity and waste‑to‑value initiatives
17) Roland Berger – Energy, Utilities & Infrastructure
Founder: Roland Berger
Founded: 1967
Headquarters: Munich, Germany
Product Categories: Market design & regulation, renewables auctions, mobility/EV, hydrogen, infrastructure investment
Description (~100 words):
Roland Berger brings European policy and market design expertise, advising governments, TSOs and investors on auctions, interconnection, and cross‑border power flows. It supports OEMs and utilities on EV charging, flexibility markets, and hydrogen cluster development.
Key Features:
- EU market design and auction expertise
- Cross‑border power and interconnector strategy
- EV and flexibility market models
- Hydrogen clusters and infrastructure roadmaps
- Investor memoranda and bankability support
18) FTI Consulting – Power, Renewables & Clean Energy
Founders: Joseph Reynolds, Dan Luczak (FTI origins as Forensic Technologies)
Founded: 1982
Headquarters: Washington, DC, USA
Product Categories: Restructuring & disputes, market analysis, project finance support, regulatory & policy, communications
Description :
FTI provides transaction, restructuring and disputes support across power and renewables. It builds market models for lenders, quantifies curtailment and congestion risks, and supports arbitration and regulatory proceedings. Communications teams manage stakeholder alignment for contentious projects.
Key Features:
- Independent market and congestion studies
- Project finance and lender advisory
- Restructuring and expert testimony
- Regulatory/policy analysis and strategy
- Strategic communications for approvals
19) ICF – Energy & Utility Programs
Founders: Clarence “Lucky” Lester and colleagues (Inner City Fund)
Founded: 1969
Headquarters: Fairfax, VA, USA
Product Categories: Energy efficiency & DSM, resilience, grid planning, climate programs, public funding, analytics
Description :
ICF designs and implements large‑scale utility programs for energy efficiency, electrification, and resilience. It develops climate action plans for states and cities, aligns funding and implementation, and measures outcomes with robust M&V frameworks-ensuring equity and affordability are integral.
Key Features:
- Portfolio‑scale DSM and electrification
- Community resilience and climate planning
- Grid planning and beneficial electrification
- Funding strategy and compliance
- Impact evaluation and M&V
20) Wood Mackenzie – Energy & Natural Resources
Founders: Origin as a Scottish stockbroker partnership; modern research/consulting brand; no single founder
Founded: 1900s origins (brand established over a century ago)
Headquarters: Edinburgh, United Kingdom (global offices)
Product Categories: Energy research & consulting, price outlooks, supply/demand models, LCOE/LCOH, strategic advisory
Description :
Wood Mackenzie provides data‑rich research and bespoke consulting across upstream, gas & LNG, power & renewables, and metals. Its outlooks on prices, technology learning curves, and capex guide board strategy and financing. Consulting teams translate datasets into market entry, due diligence, and partnership strategies for developers and investors.
Key Features:
- Comprehensive energy datasets and forecasts
- Bankable outlooks for finance and M&A
- LCOE/LCOH and technology learning curves
- LNG, power, renewables and metals coverage
- Strategy, diligence and market entry support
Conclusion
Energy consulting is no longer siloed strategy0it’s execution anchored in data, policy, and engineering. The firms above lead on grid modernization, renewable scale‑up, hydrogen and CCUS, and operating model rewires that cut both carbon and cost. Whether you’re a utility reshaping IRPs, a developer financing storage or offshore wind, or an industrials player decarbonizing scope 1–3, these partners bring the bench strength, models, and delivery discipline to de‑risk decisions and accelerate outcomes.
