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Topic started on 11-5-2007 @ 04:19 PM by Don Wahn
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So it seems as though scientists have figured out that if they can manage to tap the jet stream for wind power, they could solve the energy needs of
the entire planet.
Granted this is still in its initial phases or research, but it seems plausible and promising that this kind of technology could eventually help ease
the burden on our existing power grids, or better yet, relieve their burden completely.
Do you think that technology of this sort could cure our energy woes completely? What benefits or problems does this pose for society in general?
Scientists to tap jet stream for global power needs
 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.
A wind machine, floated into such a monstrous force, would transmit electricity on aluminum or copper cables -- or through invisible microwave beams
-- down to power grids, where it would be distributed to homes and businesses. Unlike ground-based wind generators, the high-altitude devices would be
too high to be heard and barely visible against the blue sky.
"My calculations show that if we could just tap into 1 percent of the energy in high-altitude winds, it would be enough to power all civilization.
The whole planet!" said atmospheric scientist Ken Caldeira at the Carnegie Institution's Department of Global Ecology at Stanford University.
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reply posted on 12-5-2007 @ 07:56 PM by Low Orbit
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Sure you could power the rest of the world on clean renewable energy but what's in it for the oil industry? After all aren't they the one's our
government gives money to in search of clean renewable energy?
Great article DW, it's clear practical thinking like this that will eventually lead us away from big oil's greed for an equally greedy clean
renewable energy industry. But at least it will help solve the problem of global warming.
Personally, I think whoever thought of this idea is going to get paid off big time by the oil industry and none of us will ever hear of it again.
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reply posted on 12-5-2007 @ 08:03 PM by junglelord
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that will be as popular as my Water Cars.
great clean simple idea...thanks
I am gonna go fly a kite
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reply posted on 13-5-2007 @ 09:57 PM by Don Wahn
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Low Orbit, I agree that if Big Oil gets its hands on this technology it will be stashed at Fort Knox or Area 51, so absolutely nobody can get their
hands on it. You mess with their money, they get mad.
If some technology like that stands to jeopardize the billions they make every year, then they would have no other option but to "deal with" the
competition.
And junglelord, you better watch out for your Water Cars. You dont want to be done away with the guy that had come up with the amazing invention
below.
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reply posted on 13-5-2007 @ 11:20 PM by uberarcanist
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Promising indeed. I can't see any potential problems with this technology, "Big Oil" included. I think it's very poor logic to say that "Big
Oil" is always holding us back. If we were to cross-apply such logic in the 19th Century, the Whale Oil lobby should have driven Edison out of
business! Or the Horse Moguls should've driven Ford out of business!
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reply posted on 14-5-2007 @ 03:32 PM by Don Wahn
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True, Uberarcanist, but I dont think that any of the industries of the past had as much money, time and profit invested, as the Horse and Buggy or
Whale oil people did.
With its tentacles going deep into Washington, Big Oil has the ability to manipulate scenarios as they see fit.
If they dont want this technology getting out, then they will make it so. But if they want to help mankind by bringing it to the forefront, then
maybe they will help fund and implment it, but then find a way to rape our pockets once it is in place.
Just a thought...
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reply posted on 7-7-2007 @ 06:50 PM by austinthetitan
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 Originally posted by Don Wahn
So it seems as though scientists have figured out that if they can manage to tap the jet stream for wind power, they could solve the energy needs of
the entire planet.
Granted this is still in its initial phases or research, but it seems plausible and promising that this kind of technology could eventually help ease
the burden on our existing power grids, or better yet, relieve their burden completely.
Do you think that technology of this sort could cure our energy woes completely? What benefits or problems does this pose for society in general?
Scientists to tap jet stream for global power needs
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.
A wind machine, floated into such a monstrous force, would transmit electricity on aluminum or copper cables -- or through invisible microwave beams
-- down to power grids, where it would be distributed to homes and businesses. Unlike ground-based wind generators, the high-altitude devices would be
too high to be heard and barely visible against the blue sky.
"My calculations show that if we could just tap into 1 percent of the energy in high-altitude winds, it would be enough to power all civilization.
The whole planet!" said atmospheric scientist Ken Caldeira at the Carnegie Institution's Department of Global Ecology at Stanford
University. 
Yea this might just be the break humankind needs! 
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reply posted on 7-7-2007 @ 07:41 PM by Lecter
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Originally posted by Don Wahn
Low Orbit, I agree that if Big Oil gets its hands on this technology it will be stashed at Fort Knox or Area 51, so absolutely nobody can get their
hands on it. You mess with their money, they get mad.
If some technology like that stands to jeopardize the billions they make every year, then they would have no other option but to "deal with" the
competition.
And junglelord, you better watch out for your Water Cars. You dont want to be done away with the guy that had come up with the amazing invention
below.
FYI, the government and institutions like the Smithsonian hold their most valuable documents and artifacts in facility called Iron Mountain in
Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. The patent office stores all of the original applications for patents there also.
Clicky
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reply posted on 8-7-2007 @ 04:36 PM by GradyPhilpott
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I hate to say it, but this sounds preposterous.
Not the wind part, but having generators tracking the ever changing jet stream and safely transmitting electricity back to the earth.
The maintenance of such an arrangement alone would be astronomical, it seems to me.
When you consider how well the space shuttle and space station programs are going, this doesn't really sound like a plausible long term solution.
Harnessing geothermal energy sounds better to me.
[edit on 2007/7/8 by GradyPhilpott]
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reply posted on 8-7-2007 @ 04:56 PM by stumason
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Ever changing Jet Stream, Grady?
i was under the impression that were more or less constant, with only some minor changes.
Of course, I may be wrong... But thats what we were taught "back in the day"...
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reply posted on 8-7-2007 @ 05:16 PM by GradyPhilpott
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According to the article the jet streams range from 6-9 mile up and if you watch your local weather weather over a period of a couple of weeks, you
will see the jet streams move all over the place, making major weather systems in the process.
That's what I meant.
en.wikipedia.org...
[edit on 2007/7/8 by GradyPhilpott]
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reply posted on 8-7-2007 @ 05:22 PM by stumason
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Fairy snuff 
Incidentally, you could see the jet stream nice and clear on satellite pics earlier this week with weather heading our way from the Atlantic. Huge
columns of cloud moving their way in. Quite cool to see.
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