The Neon Team

Lion Hirth

Prof. Dr. Lion Hirth is the founder and Managing Director of Neon. Trained as an economist, he specializes in electricity markets, power systems, and energy policy. Lion has led numerous consulting projects for companies, investors, and ministries, including several major studies for the German government. He teaches energy economics and policy at the Hertie School. His research, published in leading energy economics and engineering journals, is among the most cited in the field and has won several awards. As a thought leader, Lion shapes energy policy debates.

• Marginal Pricing
• Locational Pricing
• Regulating Batteries

Silvana Tiedemann

Dr. Silvana Tiedemann is Managing Director at Neon and leads our work on energy-intensive industry. She is an expert in auction design, renewables support schemes, and demand-side flexibility. For more than ten years, she has advised ministries, public agencies, and companies in Germany, Europe, and beyond. Before joining Neon, she worked in international energy policy consulting at Guidehouse. Silvana earned her Ph.D. in energy economics from the Hertie School and studied physics in Berlin and energy and climate policy in London.

• Offshore grid tariffs
• Industrial grid tariffs
• Price spikes

Ingmar Schlecht

As a Partner at Neon, Dr. Ingmar Schlecht leads our work on renewable energy support schemes, capacity mechanisms, and the Swiss market. His expertise also covers balancing, forward markets, and security of supply. He has led several major consulting projects for the German Ministry for Economic Affairs, including on CfDs and capacity markets. Before joining Neon, he developed the Swissmod electricity market model and coordinated Swiss security of supply studies. He earned his doctorate in Basel and studied economics in Marburg and Canterbury.

• Offshore grid tariffs
• Balancing market CH
• Bewirtschaftungsentgelt CH

Anselm Eicke

Dr. Anselm Eicke is a Partner at Neon and leads our work on utility-scale batteries and locational signals. He also has deep expertise in wholesale markets, balancing and ancillary services, decentralized flexibility, and grid fees. On these topics, he has led numerous studies for grid operators, battery developers, utilities, and ministries. Anselm earned his PhD in energy economics (summa cum laude) from the Hertie School and studied at Sciences Po in Paris.

• Regulating Batteries
• Locational Pricing
• System impact of utility-scale batteries

Johanna Bronisch

Dr. Johanna Bronisch is a Director at Neon and leads our activities on decentralized flexibility. Her expertise covers grid fees, dynamic tariffs, energy storage, and smart charging. She combines regulatory knowledge with data-driven analysis and the use of AI, advising companies, grid operators, and public-sector stakeholders. Johanna is a frequent speaker and moderator at energy industry conferences and has a broad network across the industry. Before joining Neon, she earned a Ph.D. in neuroscience and established the Energy Department at UnternehmerTUM.

• Grids and Benefits
• Price Spikes in Power Markets
• Dynamic Grid Tariffs

Jonathan Mühlenpfordt

Jonathan Mühlenpfordt is a Senior Consultant and Data Analyst at Neon. He combines energy market data analytics with a deep understanding of electricity markets, in particular intraday trading. He advises public and private sector clients on electricity market issues and has contributed to projects on support schemes, market design, and local flexibility incentives for the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. Prior to joining Neon, he gained experience in power trading at 50Hertz and in energy policy at the European Parliament. Jonathan studied Economics and Political Science in Lüneburg and Berlin.

• Offshore grid tariffs
• BMWE – EEG-Tool
• Dena – Synchronizing renewables and grids

Clemens Lohr

Dr. Clemens Lohr is a Consultant at Neon, working on grid fees, decentralized flexibility, and battery optimization models. He combines hands-on industry experience with rigorous energy system analysis: before joining Neon, he spent more than ten years in the sector, including at a distribution system operator, a municipal utility, and an energy service provider. Clemens earned his doctorate on the role of renewables and flexibility in climate-neutral energy systems and studied industrial engineering in Hannover, Spain, and the United States.

• Grid utility of large-scale batteries
• Smart charging
• Dynamic feed-in tariff

Alexander Neef

Dr. Alexander Neef is a Consultant and Developer at Neon, focusing on the regulation of large-scale batteries, local price signals, and secure system operation. Alexander manages projects for government ministries (DE, CH, LU) and companies in the energy sector. He is responsible for our cross-market battery model and cloud-based optimization, and has launched numerous internal AI initiatives. Alexander earned his Ph.D. in physics (summa cum laude) and has published in Nature.

• Regulating Batteries
• Management fee
• BMWE – Localational signals

Vlada Maksimova

Vlada Maksimova is a Consultant at Neon. Her expertise covers balancing markets, grid fees, and industrial demand-side flexibility. She supports grid operators, ministries, and energy-intensive industry on regulatory questions around flexibility and electricity markets. Prior to joining Neon, she gained experience across different areas of the energy sector, including at 50Hertz, Energy Brainpool, and a wind farm developer. Vlada studied Industrial Engineering and Management at TU Berlin.

• Grid tariff forecast
• Balancing market design
• Bewirtschaftungsentgelt CH

Anton Hoffmann

Anton Hoffmann is a Consultant at Neon, working on projects related to renewable energy support schemes. His areas of expertise include energy economics, energy policy, and energy regulation. He currently supports the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) in advancing its support instruments. Prior to joining Neon, he gained experience in energy consulting, government, and energy-intensive industry, including roles at Fichtner, Kienbaum, BASF, and the German Chemical Industry Association. Anton holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the Hertie School, specializing in energy economics and energy policy.

• BMWE – Gesamtstrategie

Sanjeev Dasgupta

Sanjeev Dasgupta is a Consultant at Neon, working on quantitative analysis and modeling of renewable energy support schemes. His expertise combines data analysis, programming, and policy advice. He currently supports the German and Dutch governments in refining their renewables support mechanisms. Previously, he worked for over six years in the aid sector, most recently as head of data and impact measurement at the International Rescue Committee in Asia. He holds an M.Sc. in International Development (SOAS) and a B.A. in Political Science (Duke University).

• BMWE – EEG-Tool
• EZK – Negative prices

Shirin Weigelt

Shirin Weigelt is Neon’s office all-rounder. With a background in philosophy and journalism and prior experience in management consulting, she brings a broad skill set to the role. Shirin coordinates the Neon Executive courses and workshops. She also supports the team with accounting and proposal processes.