Hardware to Save a Planet

Latest Episodes:

The Forgotten 25%: How Project Canary Is Detecting Climate's Methane Impact Jul 31, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet, host Dylan Garrett welcomes William Foiles, CEO of Project Canary, to discuss how advanced sensors and AI software are transforming methane emissions detection. They explore the evolution from custom hardware to integrated data platforms, the urgency of addressing methane's climate impact, and pragmatic strategies for change. William shares how precise, real-time monitoring empowers industrial operators to reduce emissions, proving that actionable data is a powerful tool in the climate tech arsenal.
What you will learn:

Why does methane represent 25-33% of human-induced climate change
How Project Canary evolved from a hardware-focused startup to a software platform
The crucial role of high-precision sensors in detecting methane leaks
Why combining operational data with emissions monitoring creates actionable intelligence
How utilities are using advanced mobile sensing technology to detect local gas leaks
The "pragmatic approach" principle for driving climate solutions
Why regulatory changes, business incentives, and technological advances are converging to make methane emissions management increasingly important

William Foiles is the Co-Founder and CEO of Project Canary, where he leads day-to-day operations across product development, field systems, supply chain, growth strategy, and data initiatives. With a background in energy finance and data acquisition technologies, he plays a key role in aligning resources to drive innovation and customer success. Will holds an MBA and MS from Stanford, an MS in Finance from Villanova, and a BBA from the University of Georgia. He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

Episode Resource:

William Foiles on LinkedIn
Canary Project Website
Dylan Garrett on LinkedIn
Synapse Website
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Hardware to Save a Planet is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so
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Previous guests include: Peter Reinhardt of Charm Industrial, Carlos Araque of Quaise, Noah McQueen of Heirloom, Areeb Malik of Glacier, Jeff Satwicz of Bigbelly, Abe Schneider of Natel Energy, Insiya Jafferjee of Shellworks, Paul Gross of Remora, Erika Boeing of Accelerate Wind and Daniel Betts of Blue Frontier.
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Tackling 8% of Global Emissions: Making Iron Sustainable One Atom at a Time with Sandeep Nijhawan Jul 17, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet, host Dylan Garrett sits down with Sandeep Nijhawan, CEO and Co-founder of Electra, to explore how his team is reinventing steel production. Their low-temperature electrowinning process converts iron ore into steel at just low temperatures, utilizing renewable electricity to reduce emissions in one of the planet’s most polluting industries. From garage startup to industry disruptor, Sandeep shares Electra’s journey, its potential to reshape global manufacturing, and why industrial decarbonization is crucial for climate solutions.
Sandeep Nijhawan is the CEO and Co-founder of Electra, a pioneering company focused on decarbonizing steel production through innovative electrowinning technology. With a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA, Sandeep brings extensive experience from his roles as President of Aqua Hydrex, where he developed electrolyzers for green hydrogen production, and as an Operating Partner at True North Ventures.
Since founding Electra in 2020, he has led the company from a garage startup to an organization with over 150 employees and two pilot plants in Colorado, having recently secured $186 million in Series B funding. His work in revolutionizing steel production through a low-temperature, renewable energy-powered process that reduces emissions by 99% represents a significant breakthrough in addressing one of the hardest-to-abate industrial sectors, which currently accounts for 8-10% of global emissions.

Episode Resource

Sandeep Nijhawan on LinkedIn
Electra Website
Dylan Garrett on LinkedIn
Synapse Website
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If you have an interesting hardware solution to the climate crisis and would like the opportunity to share this with our audience, please complete this Guest Application form: https://fame.so/syn

11 Climate Hardware Companies Saving Our Planet in 2025 Jul 03, 2025

Show notes

As we move through 2025, climate hardware is no longer a promise for the future; it’s happening now. In this special episode of Hardware to Save a Planet, host Dylan Garrett revisits 11 trailblazing guests who are turning bold ideas into real-world impact. From ocean carbon measurement to truck electrification, next-gen cement, and even cooling the planet with balloons, these founders share a pragmatic drive to solve today’s toughest climate challenges, proving the future of sustainability is being built right now.
Here’s a list of guests featured in this episode:

Allan Adams, founder and CEO of Aquatic Labs
Scott Mercer, Founder and CEO of Focused Energy
Luke Iseman, founder of Make Sunsets
Curtis VanWalleghem, Co-Founder and CEO of Hydrostor
Cole Ashman, CEO and founder of Pela Energy
Greg Williams, VP of Product at Sublime Systems
Jason Chua, Chief Product Officer at Range Energy
Nehali Jain, Chief of Staff at Antora
Randol Aikin, founder of Remedy Scientific
Ross Bonner, CTO and co-founder of Transaera
Johanna Wolfson, Co-founder and General Partner at Azolla Ventures

Allan is working directly with ocean carbon removal companies to understand their measurement needs. Curtis spent years in pilot projects before scaling to commercial projects. Cole designed Pela to work with existing home electrical systems. Greg partnered with cement majors instead of trying to compete with them. Jason embedded his team with trucking fleets to understand how they actually operate. Luke is deploying his solution today while the rest of us are still debating it. Nehali is already shipping thermal batteries to industrial customers. Randol has systems for cleaning up contaminated sites. Ross has designed a simple drop-in replacement. And Scott is having commercial conversations with utilities about gigawatt-scale fusion plants.

Episode Resource

Allan Adams, founder and CEO of Aquatic Labs
Scott Mercer, Founder and CEO of Focused Energy
Luke Iseman, founder of Make Sunsets
Curtis VanWalleghem, Co-Founder and CEO of Hydrostor
Cole Ashman, CEO and founder of Pila Energy
Greg Williams, VP of Product at Sublime Systems
Jason Chua, Chief Product Officer at Range Energy
Nehali Jain, Chief of Staff at Antora
Randol Aikin, founder of Remedy Scientific
Ross Bonner, CTO and co-founder of Transaera
Johanna Wolfson, Co-founder and General Partner at Azolla Ventures
Dylan Garrett on LinkedIn
Synapse Website
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If you have an interesting hardware solution to the climate crisis and would like the opportunity to share this with our audience, please complete this Guest Application form: https://fame.so/syn

Gigatons of Impact: Why Climate Hardware Needs Catalytic Capital Jun 19, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet, host Dylan Garrett sits down with Johanna Wolfson, Co-founder and General Partner at Azolla Ventures, about the critical role of catalytic capital in scaling hardware climate solutions. Johanna explains why traditional VC models often fail to support breakthrough technologies and how Azolla's mission-driven approach helps tackle high-risk projects aimed at cutting super pollutants. Whether you're a founder or climate enthusiast, this episode sheds light on financing innovation that can deliver an outsized climate impact.
What you will learn:

How catalytic capital differs from traditional venture funding
Why 20-30% of the technologies needed to hit emission targets by 2040 will come from technologies not yet commercially available
The investment strategy behind supporting "non-obvious" opportunities
How climate tech companies should adapt to current market and political uncertainties
Why adaptation and resilience technologies are becoming increasingly important
How philanthropic capital can be leveraged to support high-risk, high-impact solutions
Why focusing on super pollutants represents a critical opportunity for near-term impact

Johanna Wolfson is a Co-founder and General Partner at Azolla Ventures, a venture fund focused on investing in early-stage hardware companies with gigaton-scale emissions reduction potential by 2050. With a PhD in Physical Chemistry from MIT and experience at the Department of Energy, she specializes in eliminating barriers to commercialization for capital-intensive climate technologies. Her innovative approach to "catalytic capital" deployment enables support for high-impact climate solutions that may be too risky or long-term for traditional venture funding.
As a leader in climate tech investment, Johanna sits on the boards of several companies in carbon removal, agriculture, and mining, where she helps bridge the gap between breakthrough technologies and market implementation. Her work at Azolla Ventures demonstrates how strategic investment can accelerate the development of crucial climate solutions while maintaining both environmental impact and financial viability.

Episode Resource

Johanna Wolfson on LinkedIn
Azolla Ventures Website
Dylan Garrett on LinkedIn
Synapse Website
Hardware to Save a Planet Apple Podcasts
Hardware to Save a Planet Spotify

If you have an interesting hardware solution to the climate crisis and would like the opportunity to share this with our audience, please complete this Guest Application form: https://fame.so/syn

70% Emissions Cut by Electrifying Trailers: The Green Future of Trucking Jun 05, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet, host Dylan Garrett sits down with Jason Chua, Chief Product Officer at Range Energy, about a breakthrough in sustainable trucking. Discover how Range's electrified trailer retrofit cuts emissions by up to 70%, without replacing existing trucks. Jason shares how this smart, cost-effective solution helps fleets reduce fuel costs, extend electric range, and meet climate goals today. Learn why retrofitting trailers may be the fastest path to decarbonizing the trucking industry.
What you will learn:

How Range's trailer electrification system achieves 70% emissions reduction
Why retrofitting existing trailers is a faster path to decarbonization
The technical breakthrough of trailer-based propulsion
How electrified trailers can extend the range of electric trucks from 70 to 280 miles
Why the 3-5 year payback period makes the technology commercially viable today
How Range's partnership approach with industry incumbents accelerates adoption
The role of smart sensors and controls in making the system "plug and play" for fleets
Why refrigerated trucking represents a prime early market for trailer electrification
How Range's solution helps fleets meet both sustainability and operational goals
The importance of designing climate solutions that work within existing constraints

Jason Chua is the Chief Product Officer at Range Energy, where he leads the development of electrification solutions to decarbonize the trucking industry. A seasoned product and strategy executive, he co-founded Universal Hydrogen and previously led hybrid-electric aircraft initiatives at United Technologies and Airbus. Jason’s work spans startups, Fortune 50s, and academia, with award-winning innovations including Google’s Project Ara. He focuses on human-centered design and brings a practical, cross-disciplinary approach to building sustainable technologies with real-world impact.

Episode Resource

Jason Chua on LinkedIn
Range Energy Website
Dylan Garrett on LinkedIn
Synapse Website
Hardware to Save a Planet Apple Podcasts
Hardware to Save a Planet Spotify

If you have an interesting hardware solution to the climate crisis and would like the opportunity to share this with our audience, please complete this Guest Application form: https://fame.so/syn

Cleaning America’s 500,000 Toxic Land Sites: The PFAS Breakthrough May 22, 2025

Show notes

What if highly contaminated land could be safely and efficiently restored for productive use?
In this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet, host Dylan Garrett talks with Randol Aikin, founder of Remedy Scientific, about revolutionizing land remediation. With over 500,000 contaminated sites across the U.S., Aikin explains how robotics, AI, and containerized systems are accelerating the cleanup of toxic “forever chemicals.” This innovative approach not only enables faster, localized treatment but also unlocks critical land for housing and infrastructure, proving that development and environmental protection can go hand in hand.
What you will learn:

Why contaminated land is a critical bottleneck for housing and infrastructure
How Remedy's solution can process contaminated soil in hours instead of years
The science behind breaking down "forever chemicals"
Why focusing on highly contaminated "hot spots" is more effective
How advanced sensing technology is revolutionizing soil contamination detection
The business opportunity in transforming site-specific remediation projects
Why cleaning up contaminated sites could significantly reduce future PFAS exposure
How technology can resolve the false compromise between rapid development and environmental protection

Randol Aikin is a career technologist and founder of Remedy Scientific, a company pioneering scalable, tech-driven solutions for environmental contamination. With a PhD in Physics from Caltech, Randol has applied his expertise across diverse fields, from remote sensing for disaster relief to autonomous vehicles at Uber, Ike, and Apple’s special projects group. Passionate about cross-industry innovation, he focuses on using AI, sensing, and robotics to tackle land remediation, bringing a systems-thinking approach to one of the planet’s most urgent challenges.

Episode Resource

Randol Aikin on LinkedIn
Remedy Scientific Website
Dylan Garrett on LinkedIn
Synapse Website
Hardware to Save a Planet Apple Podcasts
Hardware to Save a Planet Spotify

If you have an interesting hardware solution to the climate crisis and would like the opportunity to share this with our audience, please complete this Guest Application form: https://fame.so/syn

10x Grid Storage: How Mesh Batteries Are Revolutionizing Home Energy May 08, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet, host Dylan Garrett talks with Cole Ashman, CEO and founder of Pila Energy, about how his company is making home energy resilience affordable and accessible. Their innovative mesh battery system provides backup power during outages, enhances solar energy usage, and supports grid stability, all at a fraction of the cost of traditional home systems. Whether you rent or own, discover how smart, distributed batteries could reshape our homes and contribute to a cleaner, more reliable energy future.
What you will learn:

How distributed mesh batteries provide 10x more grid storage capacity than current solutions
Why Hurricane Katrina inspired a mission to revolutionize home energy resilience
The "Maslow's Hierarchy" framework for climate tech adoption
How plug-and-play battery solutions remove traditional barriers to home energy
Why distributed small batteries could be more valuable than large grid-scale storage
How mesh-connected batteries enable smart energy management
The future vision of embedding battery storage in everyday appliances
Why local climate action and community-level solutions are driving meaningful change
How renters and apartment dwellers can finally access home energy storage benefits
The critical balance between solving immediate user needs and broader climate impact

Cole Ashman is the CEO and Founder of Pila Energy, a pioneering company developing innovative mesh home battery solutions. With a background in both chemical and mechanical engineering, Cole has dedicated his career to advancing residential energy resilience, having previously held key positions at Tesla, where he worked on Powerwall, and at Span, where he developed smart electrical panels.
His experience with Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans sparked a lasting commitment to improving infrastructure resilience, leading him to found Pela Energy in 2023. Under Cole's leadership, Pila Energy is revolutionizing home energy storage with its 1.6 kilowatt-hour distributed battery system, making energy resilience more accessible and affordable for homeowners and renters alike.

Episode Resource

Cole Ashman on LinkedIn
Pila Energy Website
Dylan Garrett on LinkedIn
Synapse Website
Hardware to Save a Planet Apple Podcasts
Hardware to Save a Planet Spotify

If you have an interesting hardware solution to the climate crisis and would like the opportunity to share this with our audience, please complete this Guest Application form: https://fame.so/syn

Decarbonizing Heavy Industry: Antora Energy’s 2400°C Thermal Batteries Apr 24, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet, host Dylan Garrett talks with Nehali Jain, Chief of Staff at Antora, a company on a mission to decarbonize heavy industry with thermal batteries. They explore how renewable electricity can be stored as heat in carbon blocks reaching 2,400°C—cheaper and more scalable than fossil fuels. Learn how this breakthrough tackles industrial emissions, supports grid reliability, and offers a practical path to gigaton-scale CO2 reduction through modular, cost-effective energy storage.
What you will learn:

How thermal batteries can store renewable energy at temperatures up to 2,400°C
Why industrial heat storage is an overlooked solution for decarbonizing heavy industries
The economics of thermal energy storage vs. traditional fossil fuel
How modular design principles enable rapid scaling and cost reduction
Thermal battery deployment to achieve gigaton-scale carbon emissions reduction
Why the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy storage is becoming increasingly market-driven rather than policy-dependent

Nehali Jain is the Chief of Staff at Antora Energy, where she leads fundraising and strategic growth initiatives. With a background in chemical engineering and experience at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, she has shaped climate strategy across multiple ventures, including Form Energy, Burdox, and Prawn in carbon removal.
Her expertise in energy storage and industrial decarbonization, combined with her experience across climate tech startups and investment with Mission One Capital, offers a valuable perspective on scaling solutions to reduce industrial emissions, which comprise approximately 25% of global carbon emissions. Under her leadership, Antora is working toward a gigaton-scale carbon impact by deploying its modular thermal storage systems.
Episode Resource

Nehali Jain on LinkedIn
Antora Website
Dylan Garrett on LinkedIn
Synapse Website
Hardware to Save a Planet Apple Podcasts
Hardware to Save a Planet Spotify

If you have an interesting hardware solution to the climate crisis and would like the opportunity to share this with our audience, please complete this Guest Application form: https://fame.so/syn

Igniting the Future: Fusion Power and the Road to Clean Energy with Scott Mercer Apr 10, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet, host Dylan Garrett talks with Scott Mercer, Founder and CEO of Focused Energy, about the future of nuclear fusion. They explore how laser-driven fusion, inspired by breakthroughs at Lawrence Livermore Labs, could offer limitless clean power by the 2030s. From physics to commercialization, Mercer shares how Focused Energy plans to bring fusion to the grid—and why this could be a game-changer for climate tech and global energy.
What you will learn:

How fusion energy works
The laser-driven process that compresses deuterium-tritium fuel
Focused Energy's approach, which builds upon the successful ignition achieved at Lawrence Livermore National Labs in 2022
The key engineering challenges
How fusion energy could transform global energy systems and address climate change

Scott Mercer is the CEO of Focused Energy, a pioneering company developing commercial nuclear fusion technology for energy generation. With a remarkable background in clean technology, he previously founded and led Volta, an EV charging company, for 13 years before its acquisition by Shell. Under his leadership, Focused Energy has raised over $175 million and is advancing laser-driven fusion technology similar to what achieved ignition at Lawrence Livermore National Labs. Scott brings unique expertise in scaling complex infrastructure projects and transitioning scientific breakthroughs into commercial applications. His vision for fusion energy as the ultimate solution for clean, abundant power generation, combined with his experience in building successful clean technology companies, positions him as a leading voice in the future of sustainable energy infrastructure.

Episode Resources

Scott Mercer on LinkedIn
Focused Energy Website
Dylan Garrett on LinkedIn
Synapse Website
Hardware to Save a Planet Apple Podcasts
Hardware to Save a Planet Spotify

If you have an interesting hardware solution to the climate crisis and would like the opportunity to share this with our audience, please complete this Guest Application form: https://fame.so/syn

Reinventing Cement: The Breakthrough That Could Cut 8% of Global Emissions with Greg Williams Mar 27, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet, host Dylan Garrett talks with Greg Williams, VP of Product at Sublime Systems, about their groundbreaking low-carbon cement. They discuss how Sublime’s electrochemical process eliminates fossil fuel kilns and limestone-derived emissions, tackling 8% of global CO2 output. Greg shares insights on scaling their technology, industry partnerships, and the path to making sustainable cement the new standard.
What you’ll learn:

Greg's Journey to Decarbonizing Cement
The Basics of the Cement vs. Concrete Debate
Why Cement Production is So Emissions-Heavy
How Sublime's Solution Decarbonizes Cement Production
More about the Scaling Journey From Pilot Plant to Commercial Production
The Value of Strategic Partnerships: Collaborating with Industry Leaders
The Book & Claim Model and How Microsoft is Supporting Green Cement

Greg Williams is the VP of Product at Sublime Systems and an accomplished product leader with over 15 years of experience driving hardware and software innovation across startups and public companies. Now focused on climate solutions, he brings a multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving, rapid learning, and clear communication. Greg excels at identifying market opportunities, as demonstrated in his leadership at a robotics AI startup, where he spearheaded a strategic pivot that led to a successful acquisition. Passionate about mentoring and impact-driven innovation, he is dedicated to developing technologies that address the climate crisis.

Episode Resource

Greg Williams on LinkedIn
Sublime Systems Website
Sublime Systems Project Image
Dylan Garrett on LinkedIn
Synapse Website
Hardware to Save a Planet Apple Podcasts
Hardware to Save a Planet Spotify

If you have an interesting hardware solution to the climate crisis and would like the opportunity to share this with our audience, please complete this Guest Application form: https://fame.so/syn

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