How can we get and contain the immense power of lightning?

Question

How can we get and contain the immense power of lightning?

Answer 1

Set up lightning rods and batteries everywhere!  

It can't go wrong!

Answer 2

You know, this is one I never even considered! I know that they use weather vanes on top of houses, and barns? Maybe they could rig those to direct the energy from each strike into a collector, and use it as  needed!

If it worked?  We could put one on every building ,size to size, and then tell the power companies to go suck a lemon! I like it!

Somebody get right on this!!!

Answer 3

I don't know, but cool question!

Answer 4

Benjamin Franklin would be proud of you!!!

Lightning is indeed an overlooked resource.  Tesla, who was based in Colorado, did quite a lot of experiments about this topic.........we have a great differential between mountains and plains, and consequently are high up on the lightening scale, as is Flordia with the same temperature variations.

Wouldn't it be great to tap this potential form of energy as well as the sun and wind..........seems like a natural to me...........

What a benefit for all mankind!!

Answer 5

It doesn't have as much energy as you might think.  To calculate power you multiply the voltage by the current.  The voltage is very high -- millions of volts -- and the current can be pretty high, too, but it lasts for such a short time that the total energy is not very great.  Also, the fact that lightning is so intermittent and unpredictable makes it an impracticable power source, even though it worked well for Dr. Frankenstein.