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

Dan Turchin Season 6 Episode 327

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.


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