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Solarflux, a company specializing in parabolic dish concentrator technology, has developed the FOCUS parabolic dish concentrator, which converts 72% of the solar energy it gets into usable heat. This news comes from Solarflux, which just announced the results of an independent report by Lehigh University’s Energy Research Center. The report was conducted in close accordance with the methods outlined in the ASTM 905-87 industry standard relating to solar concentrators.

The report reviewed the Solarflux FOCUS parabolic dish concentrator’s performance test results. It showed that the device demonstrated solar-to-thermal conversion efficiency of 72%, meaning that once solar energy arrives at the FOCUS, 72% of it is converted into usable heat.

Solarflux FOCUS CSP parabolic dish solar concentrator

Solarflux FOCUS parabolic dish concentrator. Photo courtesy of Solarflux, used with permission.

The company noted that its solar-to-conversion efficiency is comparable to best-in-class solar-to-thermal conversion performance from alternative concentrating solar power (CSP) systems such as parabolic troughs. The difference, however, is that the FOCUS is a full, two-axis tracking device that is able to maintain perfect alignment with the sun from dawn until dusk at all latitudes.

This enables the delivery of maximum conversion efficiency throughout the day and year-round, which reportedly gives the FOCUS a significantly higher annual energy yield than alternative CSPs. FOCUS has outperformed parabolic troughs by up to 50% or more depending on the system’s peak capacity and site location.

Solarflux FOCUS parabolic dish concentrator concentrated solar energy

Solarflux FOCUS parabolic dish concentrator. Photo courtesy of Solarflux, used with permission.

The new FOCUS dish seems to offer a low-cost, low-maintenance, zero-emission modular thermal energy solution that can be used in a variety of ways. These include:

  • Industrial process heat.
  • Water desalination and purification.
  • Space heating and cooling.
  • Hot water.
  • Remote power generation.
Solarflux FOCUS parabolic dish concentrator.

Solarflux FOCUS parabolic dish concentrator. Photo courtesy of Solarflux, used with permission.

I had a quick chat with Solarflux CEO and founder Naoise Irwin, who said:

“This report provides independent confirmation of what we have long known — that the FOCUS solar concentrator is the highest performing solar technology out there.

“With a low lifetime cost of energy and room for further performance improvements, we are excited about the prospects for the FOCUS.”

Additional Information About Solarflux FOCUS

Solarflux FOCUS parabolic dish concentrator light

Solarflux FOCUS parabolic dish concentrator. Photo courtesy of Solarflux, used with permission.

The FOCUS is said to have a small physical footprint relative to other solar energy technologies. The company says that its thermal energy storage solution is around 1/10th of the price of battery storage, which allows FOCUS to be used to power nighttime operations sustainably at a low cost, and in remote locations.

It’s made up of mostly aluminum and steel and is highly recyclable. It doesn’t have an e-waste problem or toxic substances to manage at the end of its life. The thermal energy that FOCUS produces can be used for many things. Irwin pointed out, as well, that many of these uses can be helpful to mining companies of various sorts — due to the efficiency and capability in remote locations as well as the diversity of uses.

Earlier this spring, Solarflux shared a blog post titled, “The Promise of Parabolic Dish CSP Technology,” which pointed out that parabolic dishes are commonly understood as the most efficient concentrating solar power CSP technology and noted that the promise has been long recognized.

The article described some of the challenges that CSP has faced as an industry over the past decade, but explained that the Solarflux team earnestly believes that CSP, especially the parabolic dish, has significant potential, most notably as a distributed solar thermal (versus electrical) energy technology. Citing the IEA, the article pointed out that heat is the largest energy end-use and it accounts for over 50% of energy consumption. Half of this is used by industry, with a balance used for space and water heating (think cooking in homes and buildings) and agriculture with only around 10% of the heat being provided by renewable technologies.

Another large energy consumer mentioned was air conditioning, which accounts for up to 27% of home energy consumption in parts of the US. Mine is definitely in that number — heat domes are not fun! Solarflux noted that air conditioning can be more energy efficient if it uses a thermal energy source along with an absorption chiller. You can read more here.



 

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Podcast: Electricity is the base currency, Tesla Robotaxi crashes, new Porsche Cayenne EV, and more

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November 21, 2025

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Podcast: Electricity is the base currency, Tesla Robotaxi crashes, new Porsche Cayenne EV, and more

electrek podcast

In the Electrek Podcast, we discuss the most popular news in the world of sustainable transport and energy. In this week’s episode, we discuss electricity becoming the base currency, Tesla Robotaxi crashes, the new Porsche Cayenne EV, and more.

The show is live every Friday at 4 p.m. ET on Electrek’s YouTube channel.

As a reminder, we’ll have an accompanying post, like this one, on the site with an embedded link to the live stream. Head to the YouTube channel to get your questions and comments in.

After the show ends at around 5 p.m. ET, the video will be archived on YouTube and the audio on all your favorite podcast apps:

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We now have a Patreon if you want to help us avoid more ads and invest more in our content. We have some awesome gifts for our Patreons and more coming.

Here are a few of the articles that we will discuss during the podcast:

Here’s the live stream for today’s episode starting at 4:00 p.m. ET (or the video after 5 p.m. ET:


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Wallbox pushes new wave of EV chargers across the Mountain West

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November 21, 2025

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Wallbox pushes new wave of EV chargers across the Mountain West

Wallbox Mountain West

Image: Wallbox

Wallbox is ramping up its partnership with distributor Codale Electric Supply to roll out more EV chargers across the Mountain West, a region that’s seeing a rapid escalation of electrification programs and regional highway corridor build-outs.

Codale has become one of Wallbox’s most active distributors over the past two years, helping contractors, developers, and fleet operators procure Wallbox gear while also providing technical support and logistics. Now the two companies are scaling both AC and DC fast charging across Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and Nevada.

Under the new agreement, Codale will prioritize Wallbox Supernova DC fast chargers and Pulsar Family AC chargers. Codale is already coordinating upgrades of older charging systems and installing new ones across public, commercial, and multifamily sites. Early projects include collaborations with several charge point operators and large commercial portfolios, some of which are rolling out Supernova units in Q4.

The Mountain West has become a hotspot for charging expansion, and Wallbox and Codale say their partnership is designed to keep pace by streamlining installation and improving network reliability.

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Ignasi Alastuey, Wallbox’s chief business officer, said, “This partnership combines Wallbox’s innovation with Codale’s on-the-ground capabilities to rapidly scale charging networks across the Mountain West and set a new benchmark for EV infrastructure growth.”

Read more: Wallbox expands its bidirectional EV charger program in the US

If you’re looking to replace your old HVAC equipment, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you’re finding a trusted, reliable HVAC installer near you that offers competitive pricing on heat pumps, check out EnergySage. EnergySage is a free service that makes it easy for you to get a heat pump. They have pre-vetted heat pump installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high quality solutions. Plus, it’s free to use!

Your personalized heat pump quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here. – *ad


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Black Friday savings keep growing with up to 80% off EcoFlow power stations, Samsung smart appliances, Autel EV charger/solar cams, more

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November 21, 2025

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Black Friday savings keep growing with up to 80% off EcoFlow power stations, Samsung smart appliances, Autel EV charger/solar cams, more


Following suit from yesterday’s edition, today’s Green Deals are packed with better-than-ever full holiday savings, led by EcoFlow’s next phase of its Black Friday Sale event with up to 80% discounts on backup power solutions, complete with bonus savings, free gifts, and new low prices – all starting from $149 + the phase’s first 48-hour flash sale. There’s also Samsung’s Black Friday appliance sale that can save you hundreds to thousands on smart energy-conscious washer/dryers, refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers, and more – starting from $269, as well as a new low price on Autel’s 50A MaxiCharger AC Lite EV Charging Station at $398 (plus the latest solar-powered security cameras). There’s also Black Friday roundups of DJI equipment, EGO Power+ tools, smart ambient lighting devices, a collection of one-day-only Best Buy deals, like Greenworks’ STEALTH electric mini-bike, and more waiting for you below. And don’t forget about the hangover deals that are collected together at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s increased Anker SOLIX Black Friday savings, Segway’s new Navimow robotic lawn mower lows + increased Ninebot EV savings, and more.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

EcoFlow launches next Black Friday Sale phase with up to 80% off expanded lineup – starts from $149

EcoFlow has officially switched to its next Black Friday Sale phase of deals with up to 80% discounts, plenty of FREE gifts, bonus savings, and more. Among the new lineup, we spotted EcoFlow’s DELTA Pro Portable Power Station bundled with 2x 220W solar panels and a FREE protective bag at $1,699 shipped, which is not only being exclusively offered direct from the brand, but is also dropping things lower than ever. One thing to note here is that, sadly, the extra savings code isn’t valid on this bundle. It would normally run you $5,199 for everything (including the $99 bag), with the bagless bundle at Amazon keeping lower at a starting rate of $3,999 and only dropping to $1,999 right now. This deal comes in $100 under its previous offer during the brand’s Halloween Sale, giving you a total $2,300 off the going rate ($3,500 off the MSRP) for the best new price that we have tracked anywhere. Be sure to head below to check out the newest phase of full Black Friday deals.

EcoFlow’s DELTA Pro power station is among the most beloved and highly rated backup power solutions from under the brand’s flag, and this solar bundle is quite the setup to grab now that it’s fallen so low in price. Covering away-from-home trips, as well as at-home emergencies, this station starts at a 3,600Wh LiFePO4 capacity that you can expand up to its 25kWh max with further investments. Your devices and appliances can receive up to 3,600W of regular power through the 14 output ports, with it even surging as high as 7,200W for those larger appliances that need more. You’ll be 440W closer to reaching its 1,600W max solar input, thanks to the bundled panels, with additional options for recharging from an AC outlet, as well as your car’s auxiliary port (or by using a compatible alternator charger).

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***Note: EcoFlow is continuing the usage of the promo code 25EFBFAFF at checkout for an extra 5% savings off your cart’s total, with none of the prices below having it factored in. Keep in mind that a number of offers are ineligible to receive the extra savings, but be sure to try it at checkout to ensure you’re getting the best possible savings during EcoFlow’s Black Friday Sale!

EcoFlow’s other direct Black Friday website-only deals/bundles:

EcoFlow’s best Black Friday Amazon deals:

EcoFlow’s best Black Friday Sale picks:

EcoFlow’s 1-2kWh Black Friday Sale deals:

EcoFlow’s 3-6kWh Black Friday Sale deals:

EcoFlow’s outdoor adventure power deals:

EcoFlow solar panel deals:

EcoFlow’s other add-on accessory deals:

Samsung smart appliance washer and dryer installed in wall with clothes hanging around it

Save thousands for Black Friday on Samsung smart washer/dryers, refrigerators, ovens, and more starting from $269

As part of Samsung’s ongoing Black Friday Sale event, we’re seeing deals that can save you hundreds to thousands of dollars on the smartest home appliance upgrades, including the Bespoke AI All-in-One Ventless Washer/Dryer Combo at $1,999 shipped, which is actually going for $110 less at Best Buy. There’s also the newer Vented Bespoke AI All-in-One Combo at $1,999 shipped, which you won’t find at Best Buy. The ventless model normally fetches $3,299 without discounts ($3,099 for the vented counterpart) direct from the brand, and starts lower at $2,970 at Best Buy, with 2025 having seen it more often down at $2,199 during sales. While we have seen it go lower in the past, especially 2024, you’re otherwise looking at the best prices we have tracked this year, letting you upgrade to a smarter way to do laundry with up to $1,300 savings, or save more by going with Samsung’s open-box option for $1,599 on the washer/dryer’s sale page down on the right-side options.

Alongside the washer/dryer combos above, we’ve curated a full list of Samsung’s best Black Friday appliance deals on other washers, dryers, refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers, and more that you can browse by checking out our original coverage of this sale here.

man uses Autel EV charger with electric vehicle

Autel’s MaxiCharger AC Lite level 2 EV charger grants up to 50A speeds at new $398 Black Friday low (Save $171)

As part of Amazon’s ongoing Black Friday Sale event, Autel’s official storefront is offering its MaxiCharger AC Lite Home 50A Level 2 EV Charging Station for $398.20 shipped, matching the price we’re seeing direct from the brand’s website. Normally going for $569 outside of discounts, we’ve seen this model go as low as $450 in 2025, with today’s deal giving you a total $171 markdown off the full rate that beats out last year’s Black Friday pricing by $1 for a new all-time low.

You can learn more about this higher-powered EV charging solution by checking out our original coverage of this deal here. You can also find the brand’s latest solar-powered 2-cam and 4-cam Outdoor Wireless Security Camera kits that sport some unique features and currently start from $249.

DJI Power 2000 power station in living room in front of couch with sleeping man
holiday banner for EGO Power+ tools
Govee Matter Outdoor Lamp Post illuminating yard

Best Fall EV deals!

Best new Green Deals landing this week

The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.


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