BioLite acquires Goal Zero: A new chapter in portable energy

A recent acquisition is set to transform the portable and off-grid energy market: BioLite has acquired Goal Zero, two of the leading U.S. brands in the outdoor and remote power gear market.

This news brought back many personal memories. I discovered Goal Zero during a trip to the U.S. in 2012, when I bought two of their powerbanks — which I used for over 10 years! I came across BioLite shortly after, during the crowdfunding campaign for the now-famous CampStove, a revolutionary stove that generates electricity from the heat of burning biomass.

Since then, I’ve followed both brands closely, testing several of their products on the Gear Tips channel. In addition to stoves, I currently use BioLite gear like powerbanks, solar panels, and headlamps, which always accompany me on outdoor adventures.

Over the years, I even had direct conversations with BioLite to explore the possibility of distributing the brand in Brazil. However, due to high import and logistics costs, the project didn’t materialize at the time.

In this article, I share more about whom BioLite and Goal Zero are, what this acquisition means, and what we can expect for the future of portable energy.

Who Are BioLite and Goal Zero?

BioLite: Innovation in Energy and Cooking

Founded in 2006 by Jonathan Cedar and Alec Drummond, BioLite was born with the mission of developing clean and affordable energy solutions for people living off the grid — whether for outdoor recreation or underserved communities around the world.

With a business model called Parallel Innovation, BioLite develops technologies that serve both the recreational market (camping, hiking) and communities in developing countries.

Today, BioLite has already brought energy access to more than 15 million people in regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa.

Main products:

• Stoves: CampStove, FirePit+, BaseCamp, and household solutions for underserved communities.
• Solar panels: SolarPanel 5+, 10+, and 100.
• Powerbanks and batteries: Charge Series, BaseCharge.
• Lighting: HeadLamp 325, 425, 800 Pro, lanterns, and home lighting systems (SolarHome 620).

Other BioLite gear videos on Gear Tips

• Family camping grill: Biolite GrillTop
• Portable solar light: Sunlight Biolite
• 3-in-1 camping lantern: Biolite PowerLight
• The stove that generates power: BioLite CampStove 2
• Family camping kettle: KettlePot + CoffeePress accessories
• Camping power source: BaseLantern XL
• Solar panel to recharge batteries

Goal Zero: Portable Energy for Activities and Emergencies

Founded in 2009 by Robert Workman, Goal Zero began with the mission to bring clean energy to isolated communities in Africa. Since then, the company has evolved into a global reference for solar generators and portable energy storage solutions.

Main products:

• Solar generators: Yeti 150, 500X, 1500X, 3000X.
• Solar panels: Nomad and Boulder.
• Powerbanks: Venture Series, Sherpa 100PD, Sherpa 100AC.
• Lighting: Lighthouse lanterns, camping light systems.

Goal Zero Solar Generator

What Does the Acquisition Mean?

In an interview on the Rock Fight podcast, Jonathan Cedar explained that the union between BioLite and Goal Zero represents more than an acquisition: it’s the realization of BioLite’s longstanding vision to offer a complete portable energy ecosystem.

Key highlights:

• The two companies share similar origins and social values, focused on democratizing access to energy.
• Portfolio synergy: while BioLite excels in lighting, stoves, and compact powerbanks, Goal Zero leads in high-capacity storage and solar generation.
• Seamless cultural integration: their missions and goals are closely aligned, which facilitates the integration process.

Social Impact and Global Expansion

The acquisition also strengthens BioLite’s social commitment.

Jonathan Cedar highlighted that Goal Zero will now have the opportunity to expand into markets where BioLite already has a strong presence, such as Nigeria, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, and Kenya.

This will allow local communities to access clean energy to refrigerate food, light up spaces, and support small businesses sustainably.

Challenges and Opportunities

Challenges mentioned in the interview include:

• Import tariffs: global instability can impact the cost of products like batteries and solar panels.
• Cultural transition: Goal Zero will operate with more agility and less bureaucracy, but with greater responsibility in financial risk management.
• At the same time, the opportunities are clear: to reinforce the focus on the outdoor public and to develop new solutions for both end users and off-grid communities.

What About Brazil?

In the Brazilian market, neither BioLite nor Goal Zero have official operations yet.

However, in the portable energy segment for outdoor activities, some notable brands include:

• PV Light: solar panels and portable energy generation solutions.
• Nitecore: lightweight, compact, and extremely reliable powerbanks.

Conclusion

The merger between BioLite and Goal Zero is a strategic move that promises to further drive innovation in the portable and sustainable energy market.

As a longtime user and enthusiast of both brands, I’m excited to see the next steps in this new phase — both for outdoor enthusiasts and for communities that will benefit from access to clean energy.

And of course, here at Gear Tips, we’ll keep testing, reviewing, and bringing you all the updates from this new off-grid energy powerhouse!

This post is also available in: Português (Portuguese (Brazil)) Español (Spanish)