327: Can Solar Really Power the Future? Breaking Myths and Building the Next Energy Revolution with Scott Wharton, Tandem PV CEO

Scott Wharton is a visionary entrepreneur and CEO making waves in the solar industry as the leader of Tandem PV, where he’s developing solar cells that are about 30% more efficient than current market options. Previously, he spent eight years at Logitech as a general manager, revolutionizing how businesses use consumer tech for productivity and collaboration. Before that, he was the CEO of Vidtel, which was acquired by Fidelity Investments in 2013. A bold thinker and risk-taker, Scott is known for his leadership and innovation across industries. He holds an MBA from Yale and a bachelor’s degree from Binghamton University.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• How solar energy has become the cheapest and most scalable power source —and why most people haven’t caught up to this reality. • The breakthrough potential of perovskite solar cells and why they’re set to replace silicon as the industry standard. • Why the U.S. must invest in solar manufacturing – and how bringing production back from China strengthens energy security. • The evolving synergy between solar and battery storage —how new advancements are making 24/7 renewable power a reality. • Common myths about solar’s limitations and why concerns about cost, reliability, and land use no longer hold up. • Scott’s journey from leading video conferencing at Logitech to revolutionizing the solar industry – and what motivated him to take on this challenge.

Resources:

Subscribe to the AI & The Future of Work Newsletter • : https://aiandwork.beehiiv.com/subscribe • Connect with Scott Wharton on LinkedIn • : https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottwharton/AI fun fact article • : https://www.cnbc.com/2024/11/23/data-centers-powering-ai-could-use-more-electricity-than-entire-cities.html • On how AI can be used to provide fact-based impartial answers to scientific questions • : https://www.buzzsprout.com/520474/episodes/11574063 •