High altitude gravity energy storage

Abstract

The present invention is realized by apparatus and methods for harvesting, storing, and generating energy by permanently placing a large rigid buoyant platform high in the earth's atmosphere, above clouds, moisture, dust, and wind. Long, strong and light tethers can connect the buoyant structure to the ground which can hold it in position against wind forces. Weights suspended from the buoyant platform with cables are raised and lowered by electric winches to store and release gravitational potential energy. High voltage transmission lines electrically connect the platform to the earth's surface. Electrical energy from the high voltage transmission lines or from photovoltaic arrays on the platform can be stored as gravitational potential energy and subsequently released as electricity from generators driven from the stored gravitational potential energy and used on the platform or transmitted via the high voltage transmission lines.

1 . A buoyant platform module tethered to the ground having a rigid framework formed from struts, an interior of said framework comprising a gas bag, said gas bag comprising a buoyancy gas, said buoyant platform module supporting a mass in the low stratosphere, said mass comprising communications systems and communication networks. 
     
     
         2 . A platform module in the low stratosphere as in  claim 1 , said communication systems and communication networks selected from communication systems and communication networks for communication with ground, space, other stratospheric platforms, neighboring platform modules via laser, neighboring platforms via radio, spacecraft via laser, spacecraft via radio, with ground via fiber optic cables, and communications with locations via a high frequency radio bandwidth. 
     
     
         3 . A buoyant platform module tethered to the ground having a rigid framework formed from struts, an interior of said framework comprising a gas bag, said gas bag comprising a buoyancy gas, said buoyant platform module supporting a mass in the low stratosphere, said mass comprising equipment for monitoring conditions. 
     
     
         4 . A platform module in the low stratosphere as in  claim 3  said equipment for monitoring conditions selected from equipment for monitoring weather conditions, air traffic conditions, military conditions, civilian conditions, ground conditions and scientific conditions. 
     
     
         5 . A buoyant platform module tethered to the ground having a rigid framework formed from struts, an interior of said framework comprising a gas bag, said gas bag comprising a buoyancy gas, said buoyant platform module supporting a mass in the low stratosphere, said mass comprising a weapons platform. 
     
     
         6 . A platform module in the low stratosphere as in  claim 5  said weapons platform comprising weapons selected from missiles, direct energy laser weapons, and drone aircraft.