Could eolic energy be the solution to Earth’s energy problem?

It is possible that in the not too distant future, wind energy could play a more important role than it currently does in the field of energy production.

Winds at high altitudes have a much greater speed than those closer to the earth’s surface, due to less viscous friction with the ground and lower pressure. The amount of energy that the wind carries increases exponentially with its speed, and moreover, unlike winds on the surface, those at high altitudes are basically constant.

To harness this valuable source of renewable energy, some companies are coming up with several innovative designs.

One of these is an inflatable helium-filled shell called BAT (Buoyant Air Turbine) that operates at a height comparable to that of a skyscraper, and catches the strongest winds to generate at least twice the power of a conventional turbine of comparable size.

The turbine is also equipped with anemometers that measure wind speeds independently, and according to these, it varies its altitude in search of optimal wind speeds completely autonomously.

Three cables connect the system to the ground and allow it to vary altitude, as well as transporting the energy to the ground to be injected into the power grid.