30% More Power, 20% Lower Costs: Scott Graybeal on Solar’s Step-Change Moment

Perovskite solar has long promised step-change efficiency, yet manufacturing hurdles kept it in the lab. Scott Graybeal and his team at Caelux are changing that. By adding a thin perovskite “active glass” layer to conventional silicon modules, the company unlocks 30–40% more power output while cutting overall project costs, without rebuilding the solar industry from scratch. In this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet, host Dylan Garrett speaks with Scott Graybeal, CEO of Caelux, about why perovskites represent a structural shift in solar economics. Scott explains how tandem cell architectures split the light spectrum to dramatically increase energy harvest, and why adding just a few cents per watt can transform 25-year project cash flows and lower the levelised cost of energy. He also outlines Caelux’s manufacturing roadmap toward high-volume production, applying Wright’s Law through disciplined process optimisation rather than one-off breakthroughs. The conversation also explores the company’s partnership strategy with incumbent module manufacturers, the changing geography of solar production, and why the next decade could determine whether solar becomes truly ubiquitous infrastructure. What you will learn: How to Think About the Next Generation of Solar Why Cost Economics Matter More Than Pure Efficiency in Solar The Wright's Law Playbook for Manufacturing Optimization Why Partnering with Module Incumbents Beats Vertical Integration How Manufacturing Location Economics Have Fundamentally Shifted The Three Threads Driving Long-Term Viability Scott Graybeal is the CEO of Caelux, a clean energy company specializing in perovskite-based solar technology. With over 15 years of experience in the solar and energy industries, including seven years leading the energy solutions segment at Flex, a major global manufacturer, Scott brings deep expertise in advanced manufacturing and clean energy innovation. He joined Caelux in 2021 to commercialize perovskite tandem solar cells, a breakthrough technology promising 30% more power generation in the same space and 20% lower project costs. Hardware to Save a Planet is brought to you by Synapse. We are a global product development and engineering firm that partners with visionary companies to design, develop, and realize breakthrough hardware and AI-powered innovations that advance climate technologies. To learn more about Synapse and potential business partnerships we offer outside of the podcast, please visit: https://www.synapse.com/contact/ to get in touch! Chapters: 00:00 Intro 05:15 Why Perovskites Represent a Step-Change in Solar Technology 09:08 Silicon Has Hit Its Efficiency Ceiling, Here's What Changed 14:34 How Tandem Solar Cells Split the Spectrum for 30% More Power 18:49 The Economics That Unlock New Solar Projects Globally 28:20 Manufacturing at 1/4 the Cost Without China's Advantages 32:58 Wright's Law: Scaling Through Volume, Not Breakthroughs 35:37 Why Partnering With Incumbents Beats Building Your Own Modules 39:00 Decentralized Manufacturing Resets the Solar Industry Game 44:09 Solar as a Ubiquitous Commodity, The Future Beyond 25-Year Products 47:09 Final Thoughts: Science-Based Leadership and Climate Action Episode Resources: Scott Graybeal on LinkedIn -   / scottgraybeal   Caelux Website - https://caelux.com/ Dylan Garrett on LinkedIn -   / dylangarrett   Synapse Website - https://www.synapse.com/ Synapse Podcast Website - https://www.synapse.com/podcast/ Listen and Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts - https://bit.ly/3WXWMk5 Spotify - https://bit.ly/4hRsE1v Fame Host - https://hardwaretosaveaplanet.com