The Empirical Energy Podcast

Empirical Energy Vision| David Conley | Empirical Energy

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 productsChapters: 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 - OutroQuote 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

Empirical Measurement Using Mass Balance| Jana Brodersen | Empirical Energy Podcast

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 monitoringTake 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 sourcesChapters: 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 - OutroQuote 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

Instrument Development & Project Vulcan | Emily Wilson | Empirical Energy Podcast

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 mitigationTake 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 countriesChapters: 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 - OutroQuote 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

Blockchain Zero Trust Networks | Hans Rempel | Empirical Energy Podcast

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 integrationKey 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 attributionChapters: 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 – OutroQuote 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

Revolutionizing Energy Trading with Empirical Gas | Shane Foster | Empirical Energy Podcast

: In this groundbreaking inaugural episode of the Empirical Energy Podcast, host Mark Smith sits down with Shane Foster from Gunvor Group to explore the revolutionary world of empirical natural gas and how it's transforming the energy trading landscape. This comprehensive discussion reveals how traditional energy trading is evolving through cutting-edge technology, blockchain innovation, and empirical measurement to create scalable carbon reduction solutions.Short description: Shane Foster, leading energy transition efforts at Gunvor Group, discusses how empirical natural gas measurement and ISCC certification are creating new scalable pathways for corporate carbon reduction goals, combining traditional energy trading expertise with breakthrough technology.Tune in inside:Empirical natural gas measurement and certificationISCC Plus feedstock blending protocolsEnvironmental Attribute Certificates (EACs) as tradeable assetsMicrosoft's carbon reduction challenges and industry-wide scaling issuesBlockchain-based energy trading and NFT integrationVirtual vs physical delivery mechanismsMass balance methodology and ISO 14067 standardsTake aways:Traditional RNG alone cannot meet corporate carbon reduction goals at scale due to limited volume and high costsEmpirical natural gas offers 20-25% emissions reduction at single-digit percentage premium over standard natural gasISCC certification enables book and claim trading, allowing geographic flexibility for carbon savingsEACs function as birth certificates for energy, creating new tradeable asset classesCombining empirical natural gas with RNG through feedstock blending can achieve net-zero CI scoresBlockchain technology enables automated, transparent trading of environmental attributesThe solution is available today, reliable, and affordable compared to futuristic carbon removal technologiesChapters: 00:00 Introduction and Guest Background 02:30 Gunvor Group Overview and Energy Trading Operations 05:45 Energy Transition Focus and Empirical Natural Gas Introduction 09:15 The Scale Challenge: Why RNG Alone Isn't Enough 12:30 Microsoft Case Study: Corporate Carbon Reduction Reality 15:20 ISCC Certification and Feedstock Blending Explained 19:45 Understanding Environmental Attribute Certificates (EACs) 23:10 Book and Claim vs Physical Delivery Models 26:40 Empirical Gas Measurement and Mass Balance Methodology 30:25 Creating Net Zero Gas Through Blending 33:50 Benefits for Producers and Automated EAC Generation 37:15 Buyer Advantages and Scalability Solutions 40:30 Blockchain Integration and NFT-based Trading 43:20 Market Growth and Trader Accessibility 46:45 Future of Empirical Energy Ecosystem 49:30 Closing Thoughts and Industry ImpactQuote of the show: "Working with an experienced energy trader to create a new asset class, a new product, a new ecosystem has been fantastic because you're teaching us how it's done, but you've been super open to bringing on all this new technology."Don't forget to subscribe to the Empirical Energy Podcast for more insights into the future of energy trading and carbon reduction technologies. Like this episode if you found it valuable and share it with others in the energy industry who need to understand these revolutionary developments.#EmpiricalEnergy #EnergyTrading #CarbonReduction #NaturalGas #ISCC #Blockchain #RNG #EnvironmentalAttributeCertificates #EAC #GunvorGroup #Sustainability #CleanEnergy #EnergyTransition #CarbonNeutral #MassBalance #ISO14067

The Future of Energy Trading | Mark Smith | The Empirical Energy Podcast

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Welcome to the very first episode of The Empirical Energy Podcast, where host Mark Smith introduces a revolutionary approach to energy trading that's transforming global markets through scientific measurement and blockchain technology. Tune in inside: • Empirical energy measurement vs. outdated emission factors • Blockchain-powered energy trading platforms • AI integration in energy production monitoring • MMRVT framework (Monitoring, Measuring, Reporting, Verifying, Trading) • Premium pricing opportunities for verified energy • International trading standards (ISO 14067, ISCC) • Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs) as NFTs • Case studies from real clients like Pure West Energy and Gunvor Key Takeaways: • Empirical measurement replaces subjective emission factors in energy trading • Market-driven standards are ahead of regulatory frameworks by years • AI, blockchain, and measurement technologies create new premium pricing opportunities • Early adopters are sharing knowledge to scale the empirical energy movement • This approach could end energy-related geopolitical conflicts through objective measurement • The podcast serves as research for Mark's upcoming book "Empirical Energy" Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction to The Empirical Energy Podcast 02:30 - What is Empirical Energy and Why It Matters 08:15 - The Problem with Current Energy Trading Systems 15:20 - How Empirical Measurement Gamifies Energy Production 22:45 - Building an Ecosystem: Producers, Traders, and Experts 28:30 - Mark Smith's Origin Story: From Painting Houses to Solving Big Problems 35:45 - Contact Information and How to Get Involved Quote of the Show: "Let's measure all the energy and let it compete based on that empirical measurement. This will literally end wars." Subscribe to The Empirical Energy Podcast for cutting-edge insights into the future of energy trading! Like this episode if you're ready to be part of the energy revolution, and share it with anyone in the energy, trading, or sustainability space. Join the conversation in the comments below! #EmpiricalEnergy #EnergyTrading #Blockchain #AI #CleanTech #EnergyMarkets #Sustainability #Innovation #CleanConnect #EnergyMeasurement

The Empirical Energy Podcast

The Empirical Energy Podcast: Unveiling the Verified Energy RevolutionWelcome to The Empirical Energy Podcast, where we blow open the silent revolution rewriting the rules of global energy markets. Measured, verified energy is no longer an alternative—it's becoming the gold standard. This groundbreaking series takes you inside the raw mechanics of how verification technologies and blockchain-fueled trading are dismantling old systems and creating a future where empirical energy doesn't just compete, it dominates.Why Listen to The Empirical Energy Podcast?The energy industry is experiencing its most dramatic transformation in decades. Traditional trading models are giving way to verified, transparent systems that reward measurable sustainability and authentic carbon reduction. The Empirical Energy Podcast showcases the producers, traders, consultants, and industry renegades driving this seismic shift, revealing how verification standards and cutting-edge technologies are creating unprecedented opportunities in energy markets.Our podcast is essential listening for energy professionals, investors, and sustainability leaders who want to master blockchain-verified trading, capitalize on premium pricing for certified commodities, implement MMRV technologies, navigate evolving regulatory landscapes, scale empirical energy solutions, and position themselves at the forefront of the energy transition.What to Expect from Each EpisodeEvery episode delivers insider perspectives from the pioneers reshaping energy markets. Our diverse guest roster spans the entire empirical energy ecosystem, from C-suite executives at leading energy producers to traders at global trading houses, verification specialists setting industry standards, and innovation scouts connecting breakthrough technologies with market opportunities.Featured Topics Include: Blockchain-verified energy trading and transparent transaction systems, premium pricing strategies for measured commodities, MMRV technologies and AI-powered verification platforms, carbon-neutral certification standards and pathways, regulatory trends driving empirical measurement adoption, alternative energy market valuation models, trading desk adaptation to certified molecules, and scaling solutions for empirical energy markets.Personal Leadership Insights: Career journeys in the evolving energy sector, decision-making frameworks for high-stakes energy investments, overcoming industry challenges and market disruptions, building teams that bridge traditional energy and emerging technologies, and the strategic mindset required to lead during energy transformation.Who You'll Hear FromC-Suite Executives from leading energy producers driving verified energy initiativesGlobal Energy Traders and LNG Desk Heads specializing in certified moleculesProduction Operations Leaders implementing MMRV technologies at scaleOrigination Managers scouting and structuring empirical energy dealsVerification Specialists and Technical Directors overseeing ISO and ISCC auditsCarbon Market Analysts tracking premium pricing and market dynamicsEnergy Transition Authors and industry thought leadersInnovation Scouts connecting breakthrough technologies with market applicationsWhether you're an energy executive navigating market transformation, a trader adapting to certified commodities, or an investor seeking opportunities in verified energy markets, The Empirical Energy Podcast delivers the insider knowledge and strategic insights you need to thrive in the empirical energy revolution.