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the startling differences between U.S. and Russian methane emission methodologies, showing how emission factors — outdated, estimated reporting tools — distort climate data, global trade, and even geopolitics.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Emission factors are outdated — the future of energy is empirical measurement.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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💬 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.

#CarbonCertification #NetZeroEnergy #ISCCPathways #RNGBlending #EnergyVerification #SustainabilityCompliance #BlockchainEnergy #MassBalance #EmpiricalEnergy #CleanTech

Pure West Energy's transformation from traditional commodity gas to empirical natural gas represents a seismic shift in how the energy industry approaches carbon verification and trading. In this groundbreaking episode, Kelly Bott, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Pure West Energy, reveals the untold story of how measured, verified energy is becoming the new gold standard in global markets.

Tune in inside: empirical natural gas, verified energy trading, carbon intensity measurement, blockchain-fueled trading systems, AI data centers energy solutions, environmental attribute certificates EACs, MMRV monitoring systems, ISO 14067 mass balance certification, Wyoming energy production, Clean Connect leak detection technology

Pure West Energy has pioneered the transition from traditional gas production to empirical natural gas, where every molecule is measured, verified, and traded based on real data rather than assumptions. This revolutionary approach is reshaping how energy companies think about production, trading, and environmental responsibility. Kelly shares the compelling journey that started with environmental compliance in Wyoming's Pinedale Anticline and evolved into a market-leading position in verified low-carbon energy.

Kelly reveals how Pure West leveraged monitoring, measurement, reporting, and verification MMRV technologies to transform their operations. Using advanced leak detection systems like Clean Connect's visualization cameras and comprehensive mass balance calculations through ProMax modeling, they achieved remarkable emission reductions while creating new revenue streams through environmental attribute certificates.

The discussion dives deep into the technical innovations enabling empirical energy trading, including ISO 14067 certification with mass balance accounting and ISCC standards that allow for book-and-claim transactions. These frameworks enable Pure West to account for every molecule of gas and its associated emissions footprint on an MMBtu basis, creating defensible data for global trading markets.

Take away:

• Empirical natural gas represents the future of energy trading, where verification and real-time data replace industry assumptions

• Environmental attribute certificates EACs function like birth certificates for energy, tracking carbon intensity throughout the supply chain

• Mass balance methodology enables source-by-source emissions analysis, driving targeted operational improvements

• Book-and-claim systems allow global trading of environmental attributes without physical gas delivery constraints

• Premium pricing for verified low-carbon gas incentivizes continued emission reductions across the industry

• AI data centers require reliable energy solutions with verified environmental performance for their net-zero commitments

• Real-time monitoring systems enable immediate operational adjustments and continuous emission improvements

Quote of the show: "The future that I see, and I don't think it's a stretch, this is a data-driven future. It is all about data. It is all about being able to collect, store, analyze, respond to."

This episode provides essential insights for energy professionals, traders, environmental consultants, and anyone interested in the intersection of energy, AI, and blockchain technology. Pure West's success demonstrates how empirical verification creates competitive advantages while driving meaningful environmental improvements.

Subscribe to the Empirical Energy Podcast for more exclusive interviews with industry pioneers reshaping global energy markets. Like this episode and share it with colleagues who need to understand the future of verified energy trading.

#empiricalenergy #naturalgas #carbonintensity #energytrading #verification #blockchain #AI #datacenters #netzero #Wyoming #climatetech #energytransition #sustainability #carbonaccounting #methaneemissions #cleantech #energyinnovation #environmental

Join Mark Smith and co-founder David Conley as they share the remarkable origin story of Empirical Energy, from sitting in a hot tub during oil field layoffs to revolutionizing how the energy industry measures and trades clean natural gas. This episode takes you behind the scenes of their journey from computer vision leak detection to creating the world's first empirically measured natural gas trading platform.

Tune in to discover how they're solving the massive data problem plaguing the oil and gas industry, why emission factors are fundamentally flawed, and how their technology is enabling producers to get premiums for truly clean energy production. David reveals how they built their first proof of concept in just 90 days and scaled from a single camera detecting fugitive emissions to a comprehensive platform that's changing how energy is measured, verified, and traded.

Key topics explored include the three major causes of emission events they've identified through millions of hours of AI monitoring, the difference between book and claim versus physical energy trading, and why vertical integration is crucial for solving the complexity problem that has plagued differentiated gas programs. Learn about their partnership with traders like Gunvor and how they're creating new markets for empirical natural gas and RNG blending.

Take away points:

• The oil and gas industry relies on emission factors that can be 12 times higher than actual measured emissions

• Computer vision and AI can automate leak detection and reduce the need for dangerous nighttime field visits

• Three main emission events: cold venting, tank overpressuring, and loadout operations

• Empirical measurement enables 40% carbon reduction for data centers switching from default factors

• Book and claim trading allows clean gas premiums while physical infrastructure develops

• Vertical integration reduces complexity and costs compared to multiple vendor solutions

• Blending empirical natural gas with RNG can create net zero fuel products

Chapters:

0:00 - Intro

1:00 - The Hot Tub Moment: Origin Story of Empirical Energy

4:48 - From Computer Vision to Leak Detection Technology

8:15 - Remote Monitoring Revolution in Oil and Gas

11:20 - Three Major Types of Emission Events Discovered

14:40 - The Emission Factor Problem and Regulatory Issues

18:02 - Community Relations and Environmental Stewardship

20:26 - Data Integration Challenges and Solutions

23:54 - ISCC Certification and Trading Mechanisms

27:00 - Carbon Intensity Calculations and Data Center Applications

31:14 - Book and Claim vs Physical Trading Explained

34:39 - Vertical Integration Benefits and Cost Reduction

37:03 - Premium Pricing and Market Opportunities

39:28 - Outro

Quote of the show: "I've never seen a production facility produce an MMPTU of energy over one gram of CO2E per megajoule and they're reporting 12."

Ready to learn how empirical measurement is transforming energy markets? Subscribe for more insights into the intersection of AI, blockchain, and clean energy trading. Like this episode and share it with anyone interested in the future of energy verification and the technologies reshaping how we measure environmental impact.

#EmpiricalEnergy #CleanGas #EmissionMeasurement #OilAndGas #EnergyTrading #AI #ComputerVision #CarbonIntensity #NetZeroGas #EnergyInnovation #Blockchain #LNG #RNG #DataCenters #EnvironmentalTech

Join host Mark Smith as he dives deep with Jana Brodersen from Clean Connect to explore how mass balance calculations and digital twin technology are revolutionizing emissions monitoring and measurement in the oil and gas industry. This episode unpacks the technical foundations behind modern energy verification systems.

Tune in inside: Mass balance fundamentals, digital twin integration, IoT data mapping, ProMax simulation software, emissions monitoring technology, EPA compliance engineering, data fidelity scoring, ISCC certification processes, blockchain energy trading, AI-powered facility monitoring

Take aways:

• Mass balance works like a checking account - tracking what comes in versus what goes out of energy systems

• Digital twins combined with real-time IoT data create powerful facility monitoring capabilities

• Mapping IoT data to simulation software originally took 6 months per site, now reduced to potentially 6 hours

• Data fidelity scores help operators prioritize critical emission devices and measurement accuracy

• Camera monitoring integrated with mass balance calculations provides comprehensive emissions detection

• The future involves AI-powered automated facility management to optimize field personnel deployment

• ISCC certification requires ISO 14067 with mass balance methodology for renewable energy credits

• Multiple mass balances within closed systems allow pinpoint identification of emission sources

Chapters:

00:00 - Intro

00:46 - Jana's Background in Oil & Gas Engineering

02:24 - Introduction to MMRVT Framework 05:33 - Understanding Mass Balance Fundamentals

07:37 - Digital Twin Development with Luminary

10:27 - Streamlining Data Integration Processes

12:03 - Data Fidelity Scoring and Meter Accuracy

14:02 - Combining Visual and Mass Balance Monitoring

18:00 - Future Vision for Automated Operations

20:09 - Outro

Quote of the show: "You have a camera that's now on site that is your eyes for the facility that you can actually see that something is happening that shouldn't be happening, which is emissions."

In the rapidly evolving energy sector where verification and blockchain-fueled trading are dismantling traditional systems, understanding the technical infrastructure becomes crucial. Jana Brodersen brings over 20 years of oil and gas engineering expertise, specializing in process design and simulation using advanced software like ProMax. Her journey from upstream facility design to emissions monitoring represents the industry's pivot toward environmental accountability and data-driven operations.

The conversation reveals how mass balance principles, fundamental to process engineering, now serve as the backbone for renewable energy certification through standards like ISCC. The integration of digital twin technology with real-time telemetry data creates unprecedented visibility into facility operations, enabling operators to track emissions with precision previously impossible.

The discussion explores the challenges of scaling these technologies across hundreds of sites, the importance of data quality through fidelity scoring, and how combining visual monitoring with mathematical models creates robust verification systems. As the industry faces increasing regulatory pressure from the EPA and growing demand for verified clean energy, these technological solutions become essential for operational success.

Don't forget to subscribe to the Empirical Energy Podcast for more insights into the technologies reshaping global energy markets, and share this episode with anyone interested in the intersection of engineering, environmental compliance, and energy innovation.

#EmpiricalEnergy #MassBalance #DigitalTwin #OilAndGas #EmissionsMonitoring #CleanEnergy #EnergyVerification #ProcessEngineering #IoTData #ProMax #EnvironmentalCompliance #EnergyTechnology #BlockchainEnergy #RenewableEnergy #ISCC #EPA #PermianBasin #FacilityMonitoring #DataIntegrity #EnergySector

Join host Mark Smith as he sits down with Emily Wilson, the brilliant scientist leading instrument development at Clean Connect, for an in-depth exploration of cutting-edge emission measurement technology. In this fascinating episode, Emily shares her remarkable 23-year journey at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, where she developed groundbreaking instruments for measuring trace gases in Earth and planetary atmospheres, including sending the mini carb instrument into orbit via the space station in 2019.

Short description: Emily Wilson discusses her transition from NASA to Clean Connect and introduces Project Vulcan, a revolutionary approach to measuring and reducing stack emissions in real-time.

Tune in inside: NASA instrument development, miniaturized laser heterodyne radiometer, Project Vulcan stack monitoring, combustion efficiency optimization, greenhouse gas reduction, empirical measurement vs emission factors, global carbon observation networks, spectroscopy applications, feedback loop technology, climate change mitigation

Take away:

• Learn how Emily's NASA-developed technology is being adapted for commercial emission monitoring

• Discover Project Vulcan's approach to mapping combustion emissions across stack cross-sections

• Understand why direct measurement beats emission factors for accurate environmental data

• Explore the potential for 10% greenhouse gas reduction through optimized combustion

• See how real-time feedback loops can gamify emission reduction for companies

• Understand the critical need for global carbon monitoring networks in developing countries

Chapters:

00:00 - Intro

00:47 - Emily's NASA Background and Instrument Development

05:32 - Partnership with Clean Connect and Technology Transfer

07:02 - Project Vulcan Overview and Client Response

11:38 - Spectroscopy and Emission Mapping Technology

14:42 - Manufacturing Challenges and Component Sourcing

16:58 - Future Vision for Climate Impact and Global Monitoring

20:14 - Empirical Energy vs Traditional Emission Factors

21:52 - Outro

Quote of the show:

"I just want to build, I want to create the idea, buy the parts, build the thing, test the thing, manufacture the thing. That's the key part. And then we can get it into use."

Ready to dive deeper into the science behind emission measurement? Subscribe to the Empirical Energy Podcast for more groundbreaking conversations with the innovators reshaping global energy markets. Hit the notification bell to stay updated on the latest episodes featuring producers, traders, consultants, and renegades driving the clean energy revolution.

#EmpiricalEnergy #EmissionMeasurement #NASA #CleanTech #ProjectVulcan #SpectroscopyTechnology #GreenhouseGas #ClimateChange #InstrumentDevelopment #CombustionOptimization #EnvironmentalMonitoring #EnergyInnovation

Join Mark Smith on the Empirical Energy Podcast as he explores the cutting-edge world of blockchain-powered zero trust networking with Hans Rempel, founder of Diode. In this deep-dive episode, discover how blockchain technology is revolutionizing industrial cybersecurity and secure communications for critical infrastructure.

Short Description: Hans Rempel from Diode explains how blockchain technology transforms traditional VPN limitations into provably secure, permissionless communication networks for industrial facilities and IoT devices.

Tune in for insights on:

• Blockchain-anchored network definitions and access control

• Zero trust networking vs traditional VPN security models

• Permissionless secure communications for industrial IoT

• Mathematical ownership of network access control lists

• Self-custody security models inspired by cryptocurrency principles

• Provable data provenance for critical infrastructure

• Autonomous AI agent network provisioning challenges

• Clean Connect architecture optimization with Diode integration

Key Takeaways:

• Traditional VPNs require opening firewall ports and complex multi-system configuration management

• Zero trust networking uses bridging servers but introduces new vendor trust dependencies

• Blockchain eliminates man-in-the-middle attacks by putting access control lists on immutable ledgers

• Self-custody network definitions give facility owners mathematical control over their security

• Permissionless networks allow adding trusted nodes without vendor dependency

• Autonomous AI agents will require automated network provisioning at scale

• Provable data provenance enables complete audit trails from sensor to final energy attribution

Chapters:

00:00 - Intro

01:30 - Hans Rempel Background and Diode Company Origins

04:15 - Internet of Things vs Secure Inbound Communications

06:45 - Traditional VPN Limitations and Security Challenges

09:20 - Zero Trust Networking and Bridging Server Concepts

11:40 - Blockchain Integration for Provably Secure Networks

14:25 - Self-Custody Security Models and Mathematical Ownership

17:10 - Clean Connect Architecture Analysis and Diode Implementation

20:35 - Permissionless Network Nodes and IP Address Control

22:50 - Future of Autonomous AI Agents and Network Automation

24:15 – Outro

Quote of the Show: "We want to give the owner the facility owner or Clean Connect, we want to give you mathematical ownership of that access control list."

Don't forget to subscribe to the Empirical Energy Podcast for more insights into the intersection of energy, AI, and blockchain technology. Like this episode if you found Hans's explanation of blockchain zero trust networking valuable, and share it with anyone working in industrial cybersecurity or critical infrastructure protection.

#blockchain #zerotrust #cybersecurity #industrialiot #networking #vpn #criticalinfrastructure #energysecurity #cleanconnect #diode #autonomousai #provenance #selfcustody #permissionless #empiricalenergy