Anyone who looks out at the ocean may feel awed by the power apparent in every wave. That power has the potential to provide energy to land-based homes and businesses, as well as floating facilities and vessels at sea. But how can we transform the ocean’s energy into usable forms, such as electricity or desalinated water?
One way to harness the ocean’s energy is through a device called a wave energy converter, or WEC. To date, WEC designs have been generally centered on large, rigid bodies that float in the water and move relative to each other as waves roll past. These bodies typically absorb ocean wave energy and focus that energy into a centralized conversion mechanism, such as a rotary generator or hydraulic piston.
Now, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is exploring ways to significantly advance wave energy converter design and development. With funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Water Power Technologies Office, NREL researchers are developing concepts in which many small energy converters can be aggregated to create a single structure. With this new approach to developing wave energy, the domain of distributed embedded energy converter technologies (DEEC-Tec) could help the promise of substantial renewable energy generation from ocean waves become a reality.
Figure 1. Stretched and deformed sample volume of a flexWEC’s structure illustrating the basic use of distributed embedded energy converters (DEECs) to create power from wave energy. The sample volume has two sections where material is removed to clarify their respective arrangements: (1) the middle section has the supporting compliant material framework removed, and (2) the right section has both the supporting compliant framework and the DEECs removed. The illustration showcases how the combined semicontinuous nature of DEEC technologies supports the development of materials and structures for ocean wave energy harvesting and conversion devices.
Why Distribute and Embed Multiple Energy Converters?
One of the most innovative elements of DEEC-Tec is its ability to create flexible ocean wave energy converters, sometimes known as flexWECs. These devices have inherently broad-banded ocean wave energy absorption and conversion characteristics, meaning they can harvest energy across a wide range of ocean wave heights and frequencies.
DEEC-Tec provides a new scope of possibilities for how ocean wave energy can be harvested and converted and how flexWEC designs could power a variety of end uses both on land (powering homes and businesses) and at sea (powering navigation buoys and marine vehicles). Some of these uses will support DOE’s Powering the Blue Economy™ initiative, which aims to advance marine renewable energy technologies, such as navigation buoys or autonomous underwater vehicles, to promote economic growth in industries such as aquaculture.
“Our goal with DEEC-Tec is to vastly broaden how we currently conceptualize and envision the use of ocean wave energy,” said NREL researcher Blake Boren, who has been studying wave energy converters for over 10 years. “There is a tremendous range of possibilities for how we can develop these DEEC-Tec-based wave energy converters, and we are accelerating that exploration process.”
Figure 2. Three possible flexWEC archetypes showcasing the nondeformed and dynamically deformed states of DEEC-Tec-based flexWEC structures. The yellow flexible bodies in each archetype represent the DEEC-based, compliant structures illustrated in Figure 1. (Note: Nothing is to scale; flexWEC archetype figures and scenes are solely illustrative.)
How DEEC-Tec Moves Wave Energy Forward
DEEC-Tec concepts are assembled from many small energy converters that, together, form a structure that can undulate like a snake, stretch and bend like a sheet of fabric, or expand and contract like a balloon. As the overall structure bends, twists, and/or changes shape as the ocean waves roll past, each embedded energy converter can turn a portion of that ocean wave energy into electricity.
A flexWEC has several advantages:
A broader spectrum of energy capture. With a wide range of movement and deformations available, DEEC-Tec-based wave energy converters absorb and convert ocean wave energy across a much broader range of wave conditions — both in terms of size and frequency — when compared with rigid-body converters.
Mechanical redundancy. The ability to use many hundreds or thousands of distributed embedded energy converters can ensure that ocean energy conversion occurs even if one or more of those converters stops functioning.
Resilience. The DEEC-Tec-based wave energy converter’s flexibility grants an inherent survival mechanism: the ability to ride out and absorb excessive, dangerous surges of energy from large storms and rough seas.
Favorable materials. DEEC-Tec-based wave energy converters could be manufactured from recycled materials or simple polymers. These replace heavier, sometimes more expensive materials that have historically been used for wave energy converter development, such as steel or rare-earth elements needed for large permanent magnets. Moreover, existing mass-manufacturing techniques could be used for straightforward and cost-effective DEEC-Tec component fabrication.
Easier installation. DEEC-Tec-based wave energy converters can be folded, deflated, or otherwise made compact for transport from a manufacturer to a deployment site. Likewise, for installation, they can be expanded to cover broad surface areas as needed. This would allow for robust energy capture with lower capital costs.
Reduced maintenance schedules. Monitoring the relative performance of many small devices determines the need for DEEC-Tec-based wave energy converter maintenance throughout the structure. The inherent redundancy of the structure potentially translates to less frequent inspections and maintenance requirements.
Near-continuous structural control. A DEEC-Tec-based wave energy converter is composed of numerous small transducers — mechanisms that convert one form of energy into another. Some of these can serve as simple electrical actuators, which can change the converter’s shape and movement in response to ocean wave conditions. This will allow for greater ocean wave energy harvesting and conversion control.
Bending to the Future
While there are many advantages to using DEEC-Tec in the research and development of ocean wave energy converters, there are still unknowns that need to be understood and addressed. To this end, NREL researchers are identifying the materials, structural designs, electronic systems, and manufacturing methods that could advance DEEC-Tec concepts for marine renewable energy. NREL’s work also includes DEEC-Tec subcomponent validation and codesign, computational models to simulate performance, and device proofs of concept for building and validation.
As part of this research, NREL is collaborating with outside institutions, such as the University of Colorado–Boulder, Netherlands-based energy company SBM Offshore, the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, and Sandia National Laboratories.
Audi has launched the new 2025 RS e-tron GT and S e-tron GT to update its top-performance EV lineup with what is now the most powerful and fastest accelerating production vehicle in the brand’s history.
With almost 1,000 horsepower and a 0-60 mph time of just 2.4 seconds, Audi’s electric flagship joins the electric supercar ranks, where efficiency meets performance.
Two Models, One Bold Vision
The 2025 e-tron GT family now includes two models: the S e-tron GT as an impressive entry point and the headline-grabbing RS e-tron GT Performance. Both models benefit from significant upgrades, including improved battery capacity, range, and faster charging.
S e-tron GT: With 670 horsepower and a 0-60 mph time of 3.3 seconds, the S model brings thrilling performance to a broader audience. Its range now stretches to an impressive EPA-estimated 300 miles, making it as practical as it is powerful.
RS e-tron GT Performance: This model doesn’t just push boundaries—it obliterates them. Alongside its record-breaking acceleration, it features advanced thermal management, a new 105 kWh battery, and cutting-edge chassis technologies.
The new 105 kWh battery pack enables up to 300 miles of range on the S e-tron GT. No range figures are not available for the RS yet.
Audi has packed the 2025 e-tron GT models with a suite of performance-enhancing upgrades:
Push-to-Pass Boost: Unique to the RS Performance model, this feature delivers an extra 94 horsepower at speeds above 19 mph for ten seconds, transforming straightaways into launch pads.
Advanced Recuperation: Both models now recover up to 400 kW during braking, which is absolutely insane
Faster Charging: DC fast charging power has increased to 320 kW, enabling a 10-80% charge in just 18 minutes.
The four-ring brand has refined the e-tron GT’s already impressive handling with new active suspension technology, offering better cornering dynamics and enhanced ride comfort. The RS Performance mode, exclusive to the top model, optimizes torque distribution and suspension settings for maximum grip and precision on challenging roads or track conditions.
While staying true to its sleek grand tourer DNA, the 2025 e-tron GT lineup introduces new exterior colors, a reworked front fascia, and unique forged carbon design elements. The RS model, in particular, showcases Audi’s first use of forged carbon fiber for interior and exterior accents, delivering a high-tech, lightweight look.
Audi RS e-tron GT Pictures
Audi S e-tron GT Pictures
Inside, Audi debuts a glass roof with adjustable transparency, allowing drivers to customize the ambiance with a liquid crystal film that transitions from clear to frosted.
Pricing and Availability
Both models are now available for order through U.S. Audi dealerships:
S e-tron GT: Starting at $125,500
RS e-tron GT Performance: Starting at $167,000
Hopefully, we will get a chance to get behind the wheels of this new e-tron GT lineup soon because these look like significant improvements over the previous model years.
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For a nearly $50,000 SUV, Honda’s Prologue is hard to pass up right now, with lease prices starting at just $229 per month. Honda is now offering its $229/mo Prologue EV lease deal in more US states. Here’s how you can take advantage of the savings.
Despite just kicking off deliveries in March, Honda’s electric SUV is already among the top-selling EVs in the US.
According to Kelley Blue Book, the Honda Prologue was the fifth best-selling EV in the US in the third quarter. With 12,644 models sold in Q3, Honda’s electric SUV outpaced rival SUVs, including the Hyundai IONIQ 5 (11,590), Chevy Equinox EV (9,772), Volkswagen ID.4 (4,518), and Toyota bZ4X (4,109).
Only the Tesla Model Y, Model 3, Cybertruck, and Ford Mustang Mach-E outsold the Prologue last quarter. However, with over 4,100 Prologue’s sold in October, Honda’s electric SUV topped the Mach-E (3,313).
Honda’s electric SUV is taking the US by storm, and now massive incentives are making it more affordable than ever.
The 2024 Honda Prologue went on sale last month in California, with leases starting as low as $229 for 36 months (10,000 miles per year). Now, Honda is expanding the offer to at least 17 states.
2024 Honda Prologue Elite (Source: Honda)
Honda expands $229 per month Prologue EV lease deal
According to online auto data firm CarsDirect, Honda is now offering the Prologue EV lease deal in Colorado, Connecticut, Washington DC, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia.
The $229 per month lease deal includes $1,000 bonus cash for current Honda lessees and those leasing from rival brands. With $1,299 due at signing, the effective cost is just $259 per month.
The lease offer is a steal for a nearly $50,000 electric SUV. The 2024 Honda Prologue EX FWD has a range of up to 296 miles, while AWD models have a range of up to 281 miles.
2024 Honda Prologue trim
Starting Price (w/o $1,395 destination fee)
Starting price after tax credit (w/o $1,395 destination fee)
Starting price after tax credit (with $1,395 destination fee)
EPA Range (miles)
EX (FWD)
$47,400
$39,900
$41,295
296
EX (AWD)
$50,400
$42,900
$44,295
281
Touring (FWD)
$51.700
$44,200
$45,595
296
Touring (AWD)
$54,700
$47,200
$48,595
281
Elite (AWD)
$57,900
$50,400
$51,795
273
2024 Honda Prologue prices and range by trim
In other parts of the US, Honda’s Prologue is still listed at just $259 per month. With $1,299 due at signing, the monthly rate is $289, still under $300. However, you may want to act fast. The deals end on January 2, 2025.
We’ve got a bunch of fresh Black Friday Green Deals for you today as many brands and outlets have all launched their full savings through Cyber Monday. We have exclusive new dual low prices on Anker’s SOLIX F3800 Portable Power Station, as well as the bundle option, that gives you up to $2,299 in savings and starts from $2,099. Next, we have Jackery’s full Black Friday sale spread with up to $3,200 in savings, split across its direct site and Amazon, starting as low as $89. From there we have a large lineup of Husqvarna lawncare equipment that have had prices cut by up to $751, starting from $95, as well as GE’s Smart Indoor Smoker that is down at $599. Plus, all the other hangover Green Deals are in the links at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s full Black Friday savings on ALLPOWERS power stations and GE’s 2-in-1 electric washer/ventless dryer, and more.
Exclusive deals on Anker SOLIX F3800 power station and bundle saves you up to $2,299 at new lows from $2,099
Wellbots is giving 9to5Toys readers two amazing exclusive discounts on Anker’s SOLIX F3800 Portable Power Station and a subsequent bundle. The first of these deals is on the lone F3800 unit for $2,099 shipped, after using the promo code 9TO5ANKER300 at checkout for an additional $300 off. Normally going for $3,999 at full price, discounts coming direct from Anker have taken costs down as low as $2,999, with Wellbots having previously delivered the former lowest price of $2,499 back in June. Today though, this title-holding low has been swiftly knocked from its place as we’re getting an even bigger 48% markdown that slashes a full $1,900 off the going rate, landing it at a new all-time low that falls $400 under its former low.
Some people want a backup power solution tailored for a specific use, while others look for the best model that offers the most widespread versatility of uses – Anker’s SOLIX F3800 prominently positions itself in the latter of these two needs with a 3,840Wh LiFePO4 battery capacity that you can invest in over time to expand upwards to 26.9kWh with additional equipment like expansion batteries. It pumps out the juice your devices and appliances need at up to 6,000W with an array of 15+ output ports to cover connection types – with dedicated hook-ups for your RV, electric car, and even your home’s circuit breaker (but you will require either a Home Backup Kit for sectional support or the Home Power Panel for whole-home coverage on top of connection capabilities with your roof panels.
The second exclusive offer here is on Anker’s SOLIX F3800 Portable Power Station that comes along with an expansion battery for $3,299 shipped, after using the promo code 500ANKER9TO5 at checkout for an additional $500 off. This deal beats out the former low price (also from Wellbots) that we saw in August by $100 for a new all-time low rate that ultimately saves you $2,299 off its full price tag. With this bundle, you’re getting the full versatility we discussed above while also getting a doubled 7,680Wh LiFePO4 capacity, giving you plenty of power to keep devices and appliances running for days.
Massive Jackery Black Friday sale now live with up to $3,200 in savings on power stations & solar generators from $89
Jackery’s Black Friday sale is officially in full swing, taking up to 50% off a wide array of its power stations, bundles, and accessories spread out between its direct site and through its official Amazon storefront. One of the many notable standouts this time around is the brand’s new Explorer 2000 v2 Portable Power Station that has dropped to $799 shipped, after clipping the on-page $100 off coupon. Since releasing in September at $1,499, we’ve already seen frequent discounts on this unit, with the biggest of them having come through last month’s Prime Day savings event, which saw costs lowered to $999. Now with these Black Friday savings, you’re looking at an even greater $700 markdown that beats out its Prime Day pricing by $200 and drops things down to a new and surprising all-time low. You can also grab the station direct from Jackery with two 200W solar panels for $1,599, down from $2,499.
Built with exclusive CBT tech and a honeycomb design, which Jackery describes as contributing to “the smallest, lightest home backup power,” the new Explorer 2000 v2 model provides a well-rounded 2,042Wh LiFePO4 capacity with a 2,200W power output that peaks at 4,400W – giving you more than enough to cover campsites, travel routes, and even home backup needs for multiple days. It delivers power to your devices and appliances via the seven dedicated ports and is one of the three new models sporting the next-gen ChargeShield 2.0 for 62 forms of protection while charging – especially during storms, outages, and so on.
There are four ways to recharge the battery with this unit, with the quickest way being plugged into a wall outlet to regain 80% of the battery in about 66+ minutes, though if you need a full battery for last-minute plans and unexpected needs (say, an incoming storm), you can reach that with its supercharge features in 102+ minutes. There’s also the option to plug it directly into your car’s auxiliary port for a full battery in 24 hours, or you can utilize its maximum 400W of solar input to recharge the battery in 5.5 hours. One more thing to note here is its silent charging mode for when you’ve plugged it in for nighttime use or recharging, as it keeps under 30dB so you or anyone else trying to rest won’t be disturbed.
Direct Jackery Black Friday power station deals:
Direct Jackery Black Friday solar generator deals:
Amazon has taken up to $751 off a huge lineup of Husqvarna lawncare equipment from $95
Amazon is offering some early Black Friday savings on the Husqvarna Hedge Master 320iHD60 Cordless Electric Hedge Trimmer for $249 shipped, as well as several other tools and equipment from the brand. You’re looking at a 22% markdown here off its usual $320 price tag, discounts over 2024 having been spaced out – the biggest of which came from October’s Prime Day event where it hit a $212 low. Today’s deal cuts a solid $71 off the going rate, giving you a great opportunity to score this higher-end tool among some of its lowest prices – just $37 above the all-time lowest we’ve seen.
Husqvarna’s Hedge Master 320iHD60 comes powered by a 40V battery that can be interchanged with the brand’s other handheld tools that you already have, with a high-torque brushless motor that provides “increased efficiency, increased reliability, reduced noise and longer product life.” It gives you a 24-inch reach that supports your own comfort with tri-handle grips for heavy-duty jobs and/or longer periods of use. Don’t worry about the blades jamming up here either, as its conveniently been given an un-jam button that opens the blades up for easy clearing.
More Husqvarna cordless tool discounts:
Husqvarna Combi Switch/attachment discounts:
Husqvarna robot mower discounts:
Husqvarna gas-powered tool discounts:
Save $400 while enjoying smoky BBQ goodness with GE’s smart indoor smoker at $599
Over at Amazon we just spotted the GE Profile Smart Indoor Smoker for $599 shipped, after clipping the on-page $98.99 off coupon. Normally fetching $999 at full price since releasing at the start of 2024, most of the discounts we’ve seen have cut the price down between $719 and $799, after the very first discount lowered costs to $699. We did see a short-lived fall to the $550 low back during July’s Prime Day event, but it’s kept above $700 in the time since (even being skipped over during October’s Prime Day sales) – until today. Now, you can score this “first-of-its-kind” kitchen upgrade with a $400 markdown, which puts it down at the second-lowest price we have tracked – just $49 above the all-time low from July.
Ideal for BBQ lovers everywhere, especially those who may not have the yard space for a larger or “more proper” smoking setup, GE has provided an innovative kitchen countertop alternative here that you don’t have to worry about setting off smoke detectors. This is due to the Active Smoke Filtration system that turns wood smoke into warm air that gets channeled through the unit and into your favorite meats or veggies. There are two separate heat sources contained within, one for burning pellets and the other for cooking your food – and it comes with six preset options for brisket, pork ribs, pork butt, chicken wings, chicken breast, and salmon, as well as a warming function to keep things from going too cold too early, as well as other customizable settings.
Speaking just on its smoking capabilities, it has five adjustable controls ranging from infusing mild hints of flavor all the way to full-on rich and robust smoky satisfaction that can be tasted through your sense of smell alone. With the SmartHQ app, you’ll have total remote smart controls so you can manage loner-timed cooking periods, even when you’re away from home, with it even allowing for hands-free voice controls via Alexa or Google Assistant.
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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