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

AI and the Future of Work: Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace, Business, Ethics, HR, and IT for AI Enthusiasts, Leaders and Academics

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