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[Phys-L] Atmospheric Energy



I recently received an advertisement regarding "atmospheric energy". This
referred to retrieving atmospheric static electricity and using it for
ground-based commercial use. The ad said the approach had been successfully
tested and prototype units were available which involve a collecting balloon
at cloud levels connected by a conducting cable to a "power converter" (also
up in the atmosphere), then by conducting cable to a ground "isolation
platform" and then connected to a power generator. No numerical performance
details were given. Is anyone familiar with the performance of such an
approach? Can useful electrical power be obtained under normal
(non-thunderstorm) conditions?

Don

Dr. Donald Polvani
Adjunct Faculty, Physics
Anne Arundel Community College