Developed by Altaeros, the Buoyant Airborne Turbine (BAT), is a 60-foot diameter helium aerostat with a three-blade-rotor spinning inside it. It can rise 1,000 feet off the ground and send back power using high-strength tethers.

The company recently announced a $1.3 million demonstration project in Alaska that will supply power to about a dozen homes.



The BAT was created with remote regions in mind, where power is more expensive and other forms of alternative energy is hard to achieve, says co-founder Adam Rein. This includes parts of Alaska, which currently rely on diesel shipments and aren't suitable for solar (because they don't have enough sun) or wind turbines (because the permafrost won't take deep pilings). "In winter, it's hard to transport diesel to remote villages or industrial sites. Many areas only have road access for a few months a year," Rein explains.




Unfortunately, the BAT loses helium pressure slowly. Rein says it needs topping up every three months or so. Altaeros is also working on deals to bring BAT to remote areas in Australia and Canada.

Get to know the BAT in the video below: