Former U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm Joins Tandem PV Board to Accelerate American Solar Manufacturing
Tandem PV, a company developing next-generation solar technology based on perovskite-silicon tandem cells, has announced the appointment of former U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm to its board of directors. The addition of Granholm comes as the company advances from technology development toward commercial manufacturing and seeks to strengthen its role in the rapidly evolving U.S. clean-energy landscape.
The appointment places one of the most prominent energy policy leaders in the United States alongside a company that is aiming to reshape solar power generation through higher-efficiency photovoltaic technology. As electricity demand rises and the nation focuses on expanding domestic manufacturing capabilities, Tandem PV views Granholm’s experience in government, economic development, and energy policy as a valuable asset during its next phase of growth.
Scott Wharton, chief executive officer of Tandem PV, described Granholm’s arrival as a significant milestone for the company.
“We’re delighted to welcome Jennifer Granholm to Tandem PV’s board,” Wharton said. “Jennifer understands better than almost anyone how to turn clean-energy innovation into American industrial strength. Tandem PV is entering that phase now as we move breakthrough solar technology into commercial production. Her perspective will be invaluable as we scale advanced solar manufacturing in the United States.”
Tandem PV is focused on commercializing perovskite-silicon tandem solar panels, a technology that has attracted growing interest across the renewable-energy sector because of its potential to significantly outperform traditional silicon-based solar modules. By combining perovskite materials with conventional silicon cells, tandem designs can capture a broader portion of the solar spectrum, enabling them to generate more electricity from the same surface area.
This increased efficiency could help utilities, commercial operators, and developers maximize energy production without requiring additional land or infrastructure. As grid operators face mounting pressure to deliver more electricity while controlling costs and maintaining reliability, technologies that improve energy output per square meter are gaining strategic importance.
Industry analysts increasingly view tandem solar technology as one of the most promising pathways for advancing solar performance beyond the practical limits of conventional silicon photovoltaics. Tandem PV’s approach seeks to leverage existing manufacturing and deployment infrastructure while introducing substantial efficiency improvements.
The company has recently demonstrated notable technical progress. According to Tandem PV, its latest generation of tandem mini-modules achieved an efficiency level of 30.4% during internal testing. The result represents a significant achievement for commercial-scale solar technology and reflects advancements in both materials engineering and manufacturing processes.
Importantly, the company says the manufacturing techniques used to achieve the performance milestone were designed with scalability in mind. Rather than relying solely on laboratory conditions, the production methods are intended to support eventual large-scale manufacturing operations. The efficiency results are currently progressing through external certification procedures, an important step toward validating the technology for commercial deployment.
Granholm expressed enthusiasm about joining the company during a period of transformation for both the energy industry and domestic manufacturing.
“The idea of building the next generation of clean-energy factories in America is incredibly exciting,” Granholm said. “Tandem PV is taking a breakthrough technology from a promising idea to real manufacturing, and doing it at exactly the moment when the country needs more affordable, reliable power.”
She emphasized that increasing electricity production from existing infrastructure could have wide-ranging benefits for energy affordability and national competitiveness.
“If you can generate more electricity on the same footprint and make better use of the grid and infrastructure we already have, that is a game changer,” Granholm added. “It helps solve the affordability challenge while strengthening American energy leadership.”
Granholm brings extensive public-sector leadership experience to the board. She served as the 16th U.S. Secretary of Energy from 2021 until 2025, overseeing one of the most consequential periods in modern American energy policy. During her tenure, the Department of Energy played a central role in implementing major federal initiatives aimed at accelerating clean-energy deployment, expanding domestic manufacturing, and strengthening supply-chain resilience.
One of the defining legislative achievements during her time in office was the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act, which included hundreds of billions of dollars in incentives and investments supporting renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, energy storage, electric vehicles, and industrial decarbonization. The legislation is widely regarded as the largest climate and clean-energy investment package in U.S. history.
Before leading the Department of Energy, Granholm served two terms as governor of Michigan, where she focused heavily on economic development, job creation, and industrial competitiveness. Her experience navigating the intersection of manufacturing, technology, and public policy aligns closely with Tandem PV’s ambitions to establish large-scale domestic production capabilities.
The company’s expansion plans have already begun to take shape. Earlier this year, Tandem PV opened a commercial demonstration factory in Fremont, California, marking a major step toward bringing perovskite-silicon solar technology into commercial production. The facility serves as a bridge between laboratory innovation and industrial-scale manufacturing, allowing the company to refine production processes while supplying products for customer evaluation.
With the Fremont operation now active, Tandem PV has initiated production activities focused on customer validation programs and market trials. These efforts are designed to demonstrate the reliability, efficiency, and commercial viability of its solar panels under real-world conditions.
The company plans to begin selling its first commercial solar panels from the Fremont facility in the near future, creating an early market presence while gathering operational experience. Looking further ahead, Tandem PV has established an ambitious roadmap that targets high-volume manufacturing by 2028.
That timeline coincides with broader trends shaping the global energy sector. Electricity demand is rising due to electrification, artificial intelligence infrastructure, data center growth, industrial expansion, and the continued adoption of electric vehicles. At the same time, governments and businesses are seeking technologies capable of delivering greater energy output while reducing costs and enhancing supply-chain security.
For Tandem PV, the combination of advanced solar technology, domestic manufacturing ambitions, and experienced leadership could position the company as a notable participant in the next chapter of the renewable-energy industry. The addition of Jennifer Granholm to its board signals the company’s intent to pair technological innovation with strategic guidance as it works to move perovskite-silicon solar panels from promising research into widespread commercial deployment.
As the United States continues investing in clean-energy infrastructure and manufacturing capacity, Tandem PV’s progress may serve as an indicator of how quickly advanced solar technologies can transition from laboratory breakthroughs to large-scale industrial production, helping meet the nation’s growing demand for affordable, reliable, and domestically produced clean electricity.
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