Companies look for power way, way up in the sky

[bloomington-lib]

Source: Associated Press

The world's strongest winds race high in the sky, but that doesn't mean they're out of reach as a potentially potent energy source.

Flying, swooping and floating turbines are being developed to turn high-altitude winds into electricity.

The challenges are huge, but the potential is immense. Scientists estimate the energy in the jet streams is 100 times the amount of power used worldwide annually.

The dream is to eventually tap the jet streams, but high-altitude wind companies are focusing for now below a 2,000-foot ceiling, above which complex federal air-space restrictions kick in. Adam Rein, co-founder of the Boston company Altaeros Energies, said his company calculates winds at the 2,000 foot level are up to 2 1/2 times stronger than winds that can be reached by a typical 350-foot land turbine.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110529/ap_on_re_us/us_airborne_wind_turbines

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Much more in the article

[Yo_Mama]

1. very interesting, thanks!! n/t

[Fumesucker]

2. ...

http://www.makanipower.com/

Makani Power is developing Airborne Wind Turbines (AWT) to extract energy from powerful, consistent winds at altitude. Makani AWTs will produce energy at an unsubsidized real cost competitive with coal-fired power plants, the current benchmark of the lowest cost source of power.

[Downwinder]

3. How are they coming on the space elevator?