points by Maxion 18 hours ago | 0 comments
To capture it? Quite a few I'd imagine. The energy you could collect though from one hit is quite low.
[–] myrmidon 17 hours ago
[–] neutronicus 14 hours ago
An actual generation scheme would probably do something with the potential difference prior to dielectric breakdown actually occurring, at any rate.
[–] chii 18 hours ago
yea, i think the low efficiency (plus how to predict where lightning would hit!). Might as well just put up a wind turbine, since wind is much more predictable, not to mention easier to harvest.
That means very high peak power, making your whole capture infrastructure extremely expensive, but even capturing 100% of an average lightning bolt is worth <$100 in electricity.
Which is why nobody even attempts this.