The effort to reduce our dependence on evil fossil fuels has driven researchers, scientists and engineers to explore a plethora of new fuel sources and technologies. One renewable source of clean energy that holds vast potential – wind power – has some creative minds looking to the sky – way up in the sky. High altitude wind turbines, like the Magenn Power’s air rotor designs (above and directly below) are tethered to a ground-based power grid have the potential to create lots of power with an investment in infrastructure. Magenn’s floating, helium-filled turbines create energy by rotating in plentiful, high altitude wind currents.

Joby Energy is developing a multi-turbine design which employs turbines to propel it into the air and then utilizes a combination of: a kite-like design, high altitude air currents and a circular flight path to stay aloft while the turbines generate wind power. (pictured below)

Sky WindPower is currently working on a variety of rotocraft designs that could gather wind energy at altitudes up to an ambitious 15,000 feet. (below)

Challenges abound for high altitude wind turbines, including: wind turbulence, lightning, the lack of power grid infrastructure, air traffic and financing. After years of testing and innovation, none of the designs featured above has reached commercial viability – not to say they won’t.

Perhaps if we were to allocate a mere fraction of the billions we currently lavish on subsidies to big oil companies instead to alternative energy research, the commercial viability of high altitude wind turbines might someday become a reality.