It has been proposed that the energy contained in lightning be used to generate hydrogen from water, to harness the energy from rapid heating of water due to lightning, or to use a group of lightning arresters to harness a strike, either directly or by converting it to heat or mechanical energy, or to use inductors spaced far enough away so that a safe fraction of the energy might be captured.
Another common query is “Can lightning energy be harnessed?”.
Lightning from a thunderstorm striking a field. It is theoretically possible to store and harness the electricity from lightning, and several proposals have been advanced to show how this could be done. There are a number of reasons which make these proposals impractical, however.
The next thing we wondered was; could We harness lightning as an energy source?
Unfortunately, relying on lightning bolts to power our hair dryers, TVs, and refrigerators would be far from cost effective. The problem is that the energy in lightning is contained in a very short period of time, only a few microseconds. Further, to obtain that 1 million joules, one would have to handle a voltage of several million volts.
Sure, it’s possible . But it might not be worth it… By Sarah Jensen “Benjamin Franklin was really lucky his kite wasn’t struck by lightning,” says James Kirtley, MIT professor of electrical engineering and a specialist in electric machinery and power systems.
Can lightning be used for energy?
Each lightning bolt that actually hits the earth averages about one billion joules of energy, more than enough to power a 60 watt light bulb for six months. On the surface this seems a decent amount of energy, surely you can see why I suggest lightning as an energy source.
Can We harvest energy from a lightning source?
The second problem is that when lightning strikes earth, much of the energy arrives not as electricity but as heat. This cannot be harvested directly as electricity can and could also damage.
Can lightning be stored as electricity?
Lightning has a lot of energy; a single bolt can power 150 million light bulbs. The idea of harnessing so much energy and storing it is immensely appealing. Benjamin Franklin used a kite and a key to prove that lightning is caused by electricity, although he couldn’t store the electricity.
You should be asking “Is lightning a good source of energy?”
On the surface, lightning seems to have a lot of potential as an energy source. It is totally renewable, which is a definite advantage, and it is readily available in some regions of the world. Lightning has a lot of energy ; a single bolt can power 150 million light bulbs.
Can lightning be absorbed and be changed into energy?
This trail is a pretty good conductor of electricity, so the rest of the charges in the cloud will quickly follow down this path, causing the lightning bolts that we often see. The potential energy that was present to begin with will be reduced by this motion of charges, and instead there will be lots of kinetic energy (heat) produced as the lightning ionized the air and slams into the ground.
How much power does Lightning generate?
First off, lightning doesn’t actually generate much power when it hits. Sure, its potential is huge, but since it occurs in such short bursts, the amount of energy we see transferred from a typical bolt is only enough to power a 100 watt light bulb for six months.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of lightning?
It is totally renewable, which is a definite advantage, and it is readily available in some regions of the world. Lightning has a lot of energy; a single bolt can power 150 million light bulbs. The idea of harnessing so much energy and storing it is immensely appealing.