Neil Lessem

With global experience across diverse energy markets and regulatory regimes, Neil Lessem brings a creative yet practical approach to regulation and problem-solving in RAP’s Energy Systems Innovations (ESI) team. Specialising in environmental, behavioural and regulatory economics, he is passionate about how economics can deliver tangible value in everyday life.

Prior to joining RAP in 2026, Neil was head of economics at the Australian Energy Markets Commission (AEMC), where he worked across a wide range of issues including the integration of distributed energy resources, embedding equity in economic regulation, accounting for carbon emissions impacts, climate-change adaptation, tariff reform and market design for a rapidly evolving energy system. During this time, he also created a new role — head of research — to strengthen links between policy and academia, leading to the launch of a monthly academic seminar series, an annual policy-research conference and formal partnerships with universities.

Previously, Neil worked as an economic consultant in both the United States and Australia, advising utilities, policymakers and technology firms globally on rate design, energy policy, innovative pricing, experimental design, technology adoption and policy impact measurement.

Neil holds a master’s degree and a doctorate in economics from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where his research used experimental and real-world data to examine consumer motivations for purchasing environmentally friendly products and services. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Cape Town (UCT), earning an honours degree in economics and business studies, with an additional major in history.

Originally from South Africa, Neil is passionate about active transport and cycling. In 2019, he took a year-long sabbatical to tandem-cycle across Europe with his partner and study active transport at the University of Amsterdam.

Latest Insights from RAP Experts

July 23, 2026

如何按照“统一原则和供需关系”完善容量电价机制

国家发展改革委、国家能源局发布的114号文，为我国发电侧容量机制改革明确了“分类完善—可靠容量补偿—容量市场”的三步演进路径。其中，第二阶段建立发电侧可靠容量补偿机制，是衔接现行容量电价与未来容量市场的关键环节。本文结合114号文要求及甘肃、青海等地方实践，分析当前容量机制在资源统一比较、供需匹配和动态调整等方面存在的问题，并借鉴欧美成熟电力市场经验，提出以下建议：一是建立技术中立、统一透明的可靠容量评估体系，实现各类资源公平竞争；二是以资源充裕度评估为基础，将容量补偿与系统供需关系动态挂钩。三是建立动态调整机制，促进容量价格反映真实供需。只有夯实第二阶段改革基础，用统一的标准衡量各种资源的贡献，用前瞻性的供需评估决定补偿水平，基于用户承受能力与动态调整机制防止补贴固化，同时配合扩大容量资源的考量范围降低用户电价成本，才能顺利过渡到竞争性的容量市场，更有效支撑新型电力系统建设。 本文首刊于《能源决策与参考》，2026年6月 China’s recently issued Document No. 114, jointly released by the National Development… Read More +

July 23, 2026

价格约束下的虚拟电厂：如何进一步释放系统价值

随着容量电价机制改革持续推进，虚拟电厂有望在提升系统灵活性、保障电力安全和促进新能源消纳方面发挥更大作用。然而，仅依靠容量补偿难以形成可持续商业模式，其长期发展仍取决于电能量市场价格信号能否充分反映其系统价值。本文分析了现货市场价格约束、中长期市场交易机制和合约设计对虚拟电厂收益与投资激励的影响，并结合国际经验提出政策建议，包括进一步放宽现货市场价格限制、持续推进中长期市场量价改革、推广金融差价合约，以及坚持资源中立、技术中立原则，为虚拟电厂等灵活性资源创造公平竞争环境。通过完善价格形成机制和市场设计，虚拟电厂将能够获得与其系统贡献相匹配的经济回报，更好支撑新型电力系统安全、高效、低碳运行。 本文首刊于《南方能源观察》，2026年3月30日 China’s virtual power plants (VPPs) are poised to play a growing… Read More +