Igniting the Future: Fusion Power and the Road to Clean Energy with Scott Mercer

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet, host Dylan Garrett talks with Luke Iseman, founder of Make Sunsets, about tackling climate change through stratospheric aerosol injection. They explore the challenges of scaling hardware solutions, the urgency of immediate climate action, and the ethical debates around geoengineering. Luke shares his vision for using sulfur dioxide balloons to cool the planet, sparking a thought-provoking discussion on innovation and sustainability.

In this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet, host Dylan Garrett sits down with Curtis VanWalleghem, Co-Founder and CEO of Hydrostor, to discuss how compressed air energy storage can revolutionize renewable energy. Hydrostor's innovative underground caverns store air and water to provide long-duration, cost-effective energy storage—solving the intermittency challenge in renewable grids. The conversation dives into engineering breakthroughs, economic advantages over batteries, and the policy shifts needed to enable 100% renewable energy.