The silent revolution in energy has already begun — and it’s measured, not modeled.

In this powerful episode of The Empirical Energy Podcast, host Mark Smith sits down with Robert Kleinberg, physicist, researcher, and former Schlumberger scientist, to explore the truth behind global methane reporting — and how measurement-based verification is reshaping the world’s energy future.

Kleinberg exposes the startling differences between U.S. and Russian methane emission methodologies, showing how emission factors — outdated, estimated reporting tools — distort climate data, global trade, and even geopolitics.

As the world pushes toward verified, empirical energy, this conversation reveals the urgent need for accuracy, transparency, and data integrity across every link in the global energy chain.

This is more than policy — it’s a race for truth in the age of misinformation and market disruption.

💡 Key Takeaways

Emission factors are outdated — the future of energy is empirical measurement.

Russia’s “cleaner” data reveals flaws in global reporting, not environmental success.

Verified data = verified trade. Energy credibility depends on transparency.

Methane accuracy affects not just policy — but global economics and geopolitics.

Collaboration between science, industry, and policy is key to verified progress.

🔔 Join the Empirical Energy Movement

If this episode opened your eyes to the data behind the energy revolution:

✅ Subscribe to The Empirical Energy Podcast for more verified conversations

💬 Comment what you think: Should all energy reporting be measurement-based?

📢 Share this episode — truth in data starts with awareness

Empirical Energy — measured, verified, unstoppable. ⚡🌍

Welcome to the Empirical Energy Podcast, where host Mark Smith sits down with Mehdi, author of Enterprise Gen AI for Energy Executives, to uncover how Generative AI, blockchain, and verified data are transforming the global energy industry.

This episode dives deep into real-world AI adoption — from C-suite strategy and data management to cultural transformation and workforce adaptation. Learn how energy leaders can identify the right AI use cases, navigate the “build vs. buy” debate, and prepare for the era of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).

If you’re an energy executive, innovator, or tech strategist, this episode offers an unfiltered roadmap to the future of verified, intelligent energy.

Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome to the Empirical Energy Podcast: The verified energy revolution

00:33 – Meet your host, Mark Smith

00:45 – Introducing Mehdi and his book Enterprise Gen AI for Energy Executives

01:08 – The inspiration behind writing the book

01:41 – Bridging the gap between technical experts and executives

02:12 – The need for continuous learning in AI and energy

02:33 – Mehdi’s background: From robotics to oil to data-driven strategy

03:18 – How Generative AI is transforming business operations

03:39 – Why AI is no longer a luxury — it’s essential

04:27 – What executives will gain from Mehdi’s book

05:11 – Identifying the most valuable AI use cases

06:12 – How to prioritize, budget, and assess AI initiatives

07:11 – The “Build vs. Buy” dilemma for modern organizations

08:15 – Vendor partnerships, data security, and compliance challenges

09:40 – The reality of implementing AI in the energy sector

10:01 – Lessons from real projects and the “dumb tax” of innovation

10:38 – Prompt engineering, fine-tuning, and agent-based AI

11:30 – Managing fear and resistance to AI adoption

12:17 – Building a culture of learning and adaptation

13:04 – Behind the scenes: Mark and Mehdi’s “book club” collaboration

13:35 – Upcoming Energy AI Conference — join the movement

14:17 – The future: From Generative AI to AGI

15:31 – New jobs, new leadership, and managing intelligent systems

16:13 – How AI will reshape energy companies in the next 3 years

17:21 – Why every organization must embrace AI now

17:44 – Closing thoughts and gratitude

18:09 – How you can support and stay connected

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If this conversation sparked new ideas for you:

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💬 Comment your biggest takeaway from this episode

📢 Share this video with your team or peers in the energy space

Discover how energy producers and traders are navigating the complex world of carbon certification to deliver verified net zero natural gas products. Host Mark Smith sits down with environmental consultant MaryBeth Clifford from Protect to explore the verification side of MMRV (monitoring, measuring, reporting, and verification) and how companies like Microsoft, AWS, and Google are moving beyond traditional carbon credits to actual net zero energy consumption.

Tune in inside: ISCC certification pathways, mass balance methodology, RNG blending strategies, blockchain-based environmental attribute certificates, real-time verification systems, ISO 14067 processes, LCFS compliance, empirical energy measurement, sustainability declarations, automated carbon tracking

Key takeaways:

• Major tech companies are shifting from carbon credits to direct net zero energy consumption for their sustainability goals

• Real-time mass balance calculations are essential for energy trading, unlike annual emissions inventory processes

• ISCC certification provides viable pathways for blending RNG with conventional natural gas to achieve specific carbon intensity targets

• Blockchain-based Environmental Attribute Certificates (EACs) eliminate double counting and provide immutable verification

• Monthly verification cycles enable practical trading while maintaining certification integrity

• Mass balance methodology aligns chemical engineering principles with certification requirements

• Automated data collection systems are crucial for scaling verification processes across multiple regulatory frameworks

• Different global regulations create complexity but ISCC is working to harmonize pathways across jurisdictions

00:02 Intro - Empirical Energy Podcast opening

00:45 Host Introduction and Guest Welcome

01:23 MaryBeth Clifford's Background in Oil & Gas and Environmental Consulting

02:41 The Rise of Carbon and Sustainability Programs

03:49 MMRV Framework and Episode Context

04:42 Microsoft's Net Zero Goals and Industry Shift

05:52 RNG and Natural Gas Certification Pathways

07:02 ISCC CFR Beta Partnership and Verification Options

08:04 Mass Balance Requirements for Trading

09:18 Evolution of Carbon Intensity Pathways

10:24 Real-time Data Management and Monthly Verification

11:32 Environmental Attribute Certificates and Blockchain Integration

13:35 Verification Process Improvements

14:05 ISCC Compatibility with Various Regulatory Frameworks

15:58 Global Regulation Complexity and Alignment Challenges

17:22 Chemical Engineering Principles and Mass Balance

17:44 Protect's Services and Client Support

18:50 Outro - Call to Action

"We've walked a number of clients through verification processes to help them make sure that they have the data collected and then going with them to the meetings to answer the questions and get through that verification step."

Subscribe to the Empirical Energy Podcast for more insights on the intersection of energy, AI, and blockchain technology, and don't forget to rate and review to help us reach more industry professionals working on sustainable energy solutions.

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