In late August, Hurricane Idalia touched down on the Gulf side of Florida, resulting in significant damage and power outages throughout the Southeast United States. Unfortunately, natural disasters like this have become all too common as a symptom of climate change, so it’s important to stay prepared. Energy storage solutions provider BLUETTI recognizes the dangers of hurricane season and other inclement weather and is offering sales on a number of backup power solutions to ensure the lights stay on and you and your loved ones stay safe. Head below for a closer look at these limited time deals.
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BLUETTI is aiding in hurricane preparedness
If you’re a fan of the site, you’ve probably seen coverage of BLUETTI’s products in the past. Much like Electrek, BLUETTI is committed to promoting both sustainability and green energy solutions, but while we mostly share news of such topics, BLUETTI provides the world with a growing arsenal of eco-friendly energy storage solutions to fit any use of any size at any budget.
With products now being sold in over 100 countries around the globe, BLUETTI has provided dependable power solutions to millions of customers and will continue to do so for the betterment of our planet.
Following the recent landfall of Hurricane Idalia, the BLUETTI team set its focus on helping customers in need throughout Florida and the Southeast United States. To help others like those in Florida stay prepared, BLUETTI is offering select backup power solutions tax-free, as well as a number of home supplies.
If you’re not in Florida, it’s still important to be prepared with a home power emergency kit, so BLUETTI is offering discounts for all on some of its best portable power stations, including the AC300, B300, and EP500. Check them out.
Stay prepared for all weather with BLUETTI power stations
BLUETTI has become the top name in eco-friendly energy solutions thanks to the quality of its products, but also its interest in the wellbeing of its customers. With natural disasters like hurricanes becoming more and more common, BLUETTI is encouraging people in those weather-prone regions to make safety and preparedness a priority.
A home emergency kit should include an energy backup solution and/or portable power station to ensure the lights stay on or ensure you have spare power should you have to evacuate. BLUETTI is making these proactive measures easier by providing backup power solutions like its AC300+B300 Combo.
BLUETTI’s AC300+B300 Portable Power Station is on sale now
As a modular energy storage system, the AC300+B300 combo (seen above) can offer a wide range of capacity, anywhere from 3,072Wh all the way to 12,288Wh. Additionally, the system delivers a whopping 3,000-watt output, meaning it is more than capable of keeping your household appliances running during blackouts or other outages in addition to maintaining key accommodations like lighting and heat.
Following days of backup power, the AC300+B300 combo can replenish itself and keep going thanks to solar panels from BLUETTI. For example, the modular system can integrate two or even three PV200 folding solar panels at once to combine for a total solar charging capacity of 2,400W.
The AC300+B300 combo normally sells for $2,999, but for a limited time, BLUETTI is offering the modular power station at a discounted price of $2,599.
Add two of the aforementioned PV200 solar panels to your combo and save $500 ($3,397 total), orpay $3,846 for the three solar panel combo – another $500 discount.
Want to expand your AC300 combo to the max? BLUETTI is also offering a sale on the B300 battery packs for $1,799 – that’s $200 off each.
Additionally, the 3,000kWh+ capabilities of the AC300 system means your purchase is eligible for a 30% federal tax credit. Please visit the IRS website or consult a tax professional for more information.
So BLUETTI has you covered on home backup power during hurricanes and other emergency situations, but what about portable power? Fear not, you can also save big on mobile backup solutions like the EP500.
The EP500 is strong yet mobile through any situation
BLUETTI’s EP500 Solar Power Station offers big energy and peace of mind, all with the ease of mobility on four wheels. Its 5,100Wh LiFePO₄ battery and 2,000W pure sine wave inverter offer class-leading home backup power that can support any event, from an outdoor party to a power outage during a storm.
With 15 different power outlets, the EP500 is truly a versatile, all-in-one power solution that also integrates solar charging up to 1,200W to get itself going without any grid dependency. With four wheels, this BLUETTI power station remains quite mobile despite its size.
Stay prepared for whatever energy outages life throws at you with the BLUETTI EP500 – yours today for $3,999. Add three of the PV200 foldable solar panels to your system that BLUETTI is offering at a $500 discount. Everything can be yours for $4,896.
Stay ready and utilize BLUETTI’s power station sales
You never know when a storm, power outage, or other emergency may strike, so it’s important to stay prepared. BLUETTI has you covered with the sales mentioned above, in addition to a vast lineup of portable power solutions.
Take advantage of the sales now so you’re ready for what life throws your way. Whether it’s a hurricane, a camping trip, or a party at the park for your family – BLUETTI’s products can keep you powered up.
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A view of offshore oil and gas platform Esther in the Pacific Ocean on January 5, 2025 in Seal Beach, California.
Mario Tama | Getty Images
Oil prices jumped on Friday as the U.S. Treasury Department announced sweeping sanctions against Russia’s oil industry.
Brent gained $1.92, or 2.5%, to $78.84 per barrel by 11:12 a.m. ET, while U.S. crude oil advanced $1.89, or 2.56%, to $75.81 per barrel. Brent broke $80 per barrel for the first time since October earlier in day, hitting a session high of $80.75.
The sanctions target Russian oil companies Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas and their subsidiaries, more than 180 tankers, and more than a dozen Russian energy officials and executives. The sanctioned executives include Gazprom Neft CEO Aleksandr Valeryevich Dyukov.
The sanctioned vessels are mostly oil tankers that are part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” that has dodged existing sanctions on the country’s energy exports, according to the Treasury Department.
“The United States is taking sweeping action against Russia’s key source of revenue for funding its brutal and illegal war against Ukraine,” Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement.
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Brent crude futures, 1 year
“With today’s actions, we are ratcheting up the sanctions risk associated with Russia’s oil trade, including shipping and financial facilitation in support of Russia’s oil exports,” Yellen said.
The perception in the oil market is Indian and Chinese refiners that have imported Russian oil will have to scramble for barrels from the Middle East, said Bob Yawger, executive director of energy futures at Mizuho Securities, in a note to clients Friday.
The Biden administration has sought to ratchet up pressure on Russia and dispense aid to Ukraine before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
“The Biden administration opted for more robust energy sanctions, which caught the oil market especially complacent about sanctions risks,” said Bob McNally, president of Rapidan Energy Group.
“Therefore, we expect today’s material risk premium in Brent to stick pending signals from the Trump team as to whether they will continue these sanctions,” McNally said.
Hydrostor’s GEM A-CAES has received a conditional loan guarantee of up to $1.76 billion from the US Department of Energy (DOE) to build the Willow Rock Energy Storage Center, a cutting-edge compressed air energy storage (CAES) system, in Eastern Kern County, California.
If everything goes as planned, Willow Rock will bring 500 megawatts (MW) and 4,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of long-duration energy storage (LDES) to the southern California power grid.
This system will lower energy costs, improve grid reliability during peak demand, and expand the rollout of renewable energy into the grid. Here’s how it works and why it’s unique.
How compressed air energy storage works
CAES technology is all about storing energy for later use, especially when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing. Here’s how it works:
Storing energy: The system takes surplus energy (often from renewable sources like solar or wind) and uses it to compress air, which is stored in underground caverns.
Releasing energy: When the grid needs power, the compressed air is released, passing through a turbine to generate electricity. Willow Rock will be able to dispatch stored energy at full power for over eight-hour periods.
Unlike conventional batteries, CAES can scale up based on the size of the storage cavern and doesn’t rely on scarce critical materials. It’s durable, too –systems like Willow Rock are designed to last over 50 years.
Why advanced CAES is different
Traditional CAES systems face two big challenges: wasted heat and inconsistent power output. Willow Rock’s advanced compressed air energy storage system (A-CAES) technology solves these problems:
Thermal energy capture: Conventional CAES loses around 50% of energy during the air compression process. Willow Rock pairs a proprietary thermal storage system with this process, so it captures, stores, and reuses heat from the compression cycle.
Constant Pressure: Traditional systems lose efficiency as underground air pressure drops. Willow Rock maintains consistent pressure by using water from an above-ground reservoir. As a bonus, the facility will be a net producer of fresh water, as water condensed during the compression process will be captured and reused.
This innovative design means A-CAES systems can be installed in a greater variety of underground conditions – an estimated 80% of US geology could support similar systems, opening the door for wide deployment.
Willow Rock will create up to 700 construction jobs at its peak, and 40 full-time operations roles will follow. These positions require skills similar to those used in the oil and gas industry, making it a natural fit for Kern County, a region with roots in fossil fuel production.
GEM A-CAES is a subsidiary of Hydrostor USA Holdings, a subsidiary of Hydrostor of Canada.
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Chinese EV automaker Build Your Dreams (BYD) has unveiled its ATTO 2 compact SUV to the European public. The launch, which took place at the Brussels Motor Show, kicks off BYD’s next EV entry into European and UK markets. The BYD ATTO 2 is smaller and more affordable than its SUV siblings, with a decent range to boot, perfect for European roads.
The ATTO 2 is a rebranded version of the Chinese EV automaker BYD’s Yuan Up – an ultra-affordable compact SUV that debuted in China in February 2024. BYD may not be bringing “Yuan” branded EVs over to new markets in Europe, but that lineup continues to grow each month.
BYD currently sells four all-electric models in the UK and seven in Europe, including the ATTO 3 SUV. Today, BYD debuted a rebranded version of the Yuan Up called the ATTO 2, which will go on sale to customers in the UK and Europe next month.
BYD unveils ATTO 2 in Brussels, sales begin in February
The Brussels Motor Show recently kicked off as the first major automotive expo in Europe in 2025, and BYD showed up with a new affordable BEV option to complement the ATTO 3. Per BYD executive vice president Stella Li:
We’re excited to start 2025 with another important model for our plans in Europe. The B-segment SUV class is incredibly popular here, and with the ATTO 2, we have an agile and versatile offering that will appeal to that large potential customer base. It takes all of BYD’s strengths in batteries, electric motors and Cell-to-Body construction and combines them in a compact package that brings new intelligent technologies to the urban SUV class.
The ATTO 2 is 4,310mm long, 1,830mm wide, and 1,675mm tall—145mm shorter and 45mm slimmer than its ATTO 3 sibling. Despite its compact size, the ATTO 2 offers up to 1,430 liters of cargo capacity with its rear seat down.
The ATTO 2 also sits atop BYD’s e-Platform 3.0, the first of the brand’s compact SUVs to utilize Cell-to-Body (CTB) construction, which integrates the battery completely into the vehicle chassis—this design results in optimized space and overall increased vehicle rigidity.
Speaking of batteries, the EU and UK customers who opt for an ATTO 2 can experience BYD’s proprietary Blade Batteries, which integrates LFP cells directly instead of fitting them into multiple modules. BYD says customers can choose between two battery sizes in their ATTO 2 order. At launch, a standard range edition will utilize a 45.1 kWh Blade Battery, delivering a (WLTP) 312 km (194 miles) range.
However, BYD said a larger-battery version of the ATTO 2 will arrive in the coming months and offer drivers greater range. The automaker is not yet sharing individual pricing for the ATTO 2 in the UK or Europe. Still, a representative for the company said the compact SUV is expected to land between the BYD Dolphin and ATTO 3 BEVs, which in the UK cost 26,140 GBP ($32,157) and 37,140 GBP ($45,689) respectively.
ATTO 2 sales are expected to begin in February.
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