: 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 certification
• ISCC Plus feedstock blending protocols
• Environmental Attribute Certificates (EACs) as tradeable assets
• Microsoft's carbon reduction challenges and industry-wide scaling issues
• Blockchain-based energy trading and NFT integration
• Virtual vs physical delivery mechanisms
• Mass balance methodology and ISO 14067 standards

Take aways:

• Traditional RNG alone cannot meet corporate carbon reduction goals at scale due to limited volume and high costs
• Empirical natural gas offers 20-25% emissions reduction at single-digit percentage premium over standard natural gas
• ISCC certification enables book and claim trading, allowing geographic flexibility for carbon savings
• EACs function as birth certificates for energy, creating new tradeable asset classes
• Combining empirical natural gas with RNG through feedstock blending can achieve net-zero CI scores
• Blockchain technology enables automated, transparent trading of environmental attributes
• The solution is available today, reliable, and affordable compared to futuristic carbon removal technologies

Chapters: 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 Impact

Quote 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