Has their been any research in harnessing the electricity from lightning?

Question

Lightning an unlimited source of energy!!! Are we missing out on something?

Answer 1

It is not worth much.

Let's say a bolt of lightening is 10,000 amps ant 2,000,000V

This is P= 10,000 x 2,000,000 = 20,000,000,000 W if my math is correct.

Lightening last about say 20ms and in watt hours it has

E= 20,000,000,000 W (.02)=400,000,000 Joules

This is a lot of power problem is storing it. Batteries don't charge that fast . There are a few other ideas (See ref)

Now how much energy do you think we need to keep 100W bulb on for 24 h?

E =100 *3600 * 24= 8,640,000 Joules per day

So 1 powerful lightening bolt can keep 100W bulb on for 46 days

days=400,000,000/8,640,000=46 days

Not much is it?

Consider that an average house while has a 150A service used on average 25-40A (35 A avg) of power

E=120 x 35 x 3600 x24 x 30=10,886,400,000 Joules

so we need to capture 10,886,400,000/400,000,000=27 lightnings to keep one average house powered for a month.

Answer 2

None that we know of. But according to some old Greek, there have been something like 20 civilizations before them. Who knows? But I believe Atlantis used Orgone/Aether power.

Answer 3

How can you predict where one will strike? It is impossible. With this one component missing, all other talk is moot.