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Scientists look to the jet stream for power »

Posted by: TechnologyExpert 2 years, 6 months ago

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Scientists are eyeing the jet stream, an energy source that rages night and day, 365 days a year, just a few miles above our heads. If they can tap into its fierce winds, the world's entire electrical needs could be met, they say. The trick is figuring out how to harness the energy and get it down to the ground cost-effectively and safely.

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Comments: 9

Avg rating: (+0/-0 0)
Deidre
May 8, 2007, 8:58 a.m.
brilliant idea since the natural resources that currently fuel power plants are on the wane
Avg rating: (+2/-0 2)
aldomatic
May 8, 2007, 9:54 a.m.
I would be curious to see how they harness that power and bring it to ground level.
Avg rating: (+2/-1 1)
TonyByron
May 8, 2007, 12:30 p.m.
An interesting idea that has been floated before. It may deserve some further research but the technological and logistical deficiencies keep it in the realm of "pie in the sky" for now.
Solar and conventional wind power are available now without the danger of flying half-ton or one-ton kites above people's heads.
Avg rating: (+5/-0 5)
Harbeas
May 8, 2007, 5:27 p.m.
By tampering with the jet stream would we force it to change its normal direction? This could really upset the current global clime.
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CrazyRay
May 8, 2007, 8:01 p.m.
"The trick is figuring out how to harness the energy and get it down to the ground cost-effectively and safely."
The statement refers to the impossible, as if there was really a way to actually harness wind that travels in an unfixed narrow path 30,000 feet above the Earth - are we going to put a massive windmill several miles up in the air???
They'd be better off establishing cold fusion...
Avg rating: (+0/-0 0)
oneironaut420
May 8, 2007, 8:42 p.m.
CrazyRay: "The statement refers to the impossible..."
"Lord Kelvin (1824-1907), a highly regarded scientist and president of the Royal Society of London, stated flatly in 1885, 'Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible.'"
8)
Avg rating: (+0/-0 0)
AuntieVee
May 8, 2007, 11:57 p.m.
It would be feasible by putting turbines in the jet stream, held there by a tether to an orbiting satellite. The satellite could just move it's position with the stream. Any electricity collected would travel up to the satellite, from the satellite to the pole, where it would be transferred to the surface and distributed world wide.