No Streamers, No Strikes: Advanced Lightning Protection for Oil Storage Facilities

No Streamers = No Strikes: Advanced Lightning Protection for Oil Storage Facilities

Lightning strikes pose a significant threat to oil storage facilities, where a single strike can lead to catastrophic consequences, including explosions and fires. Traditional lightning protection methods, such as lightning rods, have been widely used but come with inherent limitations, often causing fires or electrical surges. However, a revolutionary solution has been around for the past 20 years – the CMCE Lightning Suppressor.

The Science Behind Lightning Strikes

Lightning is a natural phenomenon that occurs when there is an imbalance between the positive and negative charges within clouds or between clouds and the ground. During a storm, the ground becomes positively charged, and when the electric field becomes strong enough, it can create upward streamers that reach towards the negatively charged leader coming from the cloud. When these streamers connect with the download leader, a lightning strike occurs.

The CMCE Lightning Suppressor: A Revolutionary Approach

Unlike traditional lightning protection systems that focus on attracting and conducting lightning to the ground, the CMCE Lightning Suppressor works on a completely different principle: preventing the formation of upward streamers.

The CMCE eliminates upward streamers from the ground by draining the atmosphere of positive ionic charges and grounding them. This process effectively neutralizes the conditions necessary for lightning formation. Without upward streamers, there is no path for the downward leaders to connect, thus “No Streamers = No Strikes.”

Investing in the CMCE Lightning Suppressor means investing in the safety, security, and sustainability of oil storage operations. This innovative technology redefines the standard for lightning protection, effectively eliminating the threat of lightning strikes.

Get a Complimentary Custom Quote

If you’re interested in protecting your structures from lightning strikes with CMCE Lightning Suppression, please contact our team at sales@capitolelectronics.com or (888) 318-2333.

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Lightning-Free Living: The Invisible Shield Protecting Olympus Harbour Island

By Rachel Rowland • May 23, 2025

Luxury Living, Elevated Olympus Property is a nationally recognized leader in luxury multifamily living, known for managing and developing high-end residential communities across the United States. With a strong emphasis on lifestyle, comfort, and long-term value, Olympus Property has built a reputation for excellence in both service and innovation. One of its standout communities, Olympus Harbour Island , is a prime example of upscale urban living. Located on Tampa’s exclusive Harbour Island, this waterfront property offers resort-style amenities, panoramic city views, and proximity to downtown attractions, all while maintaining an air of refined tranquility. Olympus Harbour Island’s Vulnerability to Strikes The premium location that makes Olympus Harbour Island so desirable also places it at a heightened risk for lightning strikes. Tampa, Florida, is widely regarded as the “Lightning Capital of North America,” experiencing some of the highest lightning strike densities in the country. With Harbour Island’s exposure to open water and its array of tall, modern structures, the community faced real vulnerability to lightning-related damage. These risks included power surges, potential fire hazards, structural damage, and service disruptions—each of which could compromise resident safety, operational integrity, and the luxury living experience Olympus strives to uphold. Game-Changing Protection: CMCE Lightning Suppression To address these concerns, Olympus Property installed the advanced CMCE Lightning Suppressors at Olympus Harbour Island . Specifically, the property is now protected with a CMCE-120 and a CMCE-55 , covering 600,000 square feet total. Unlike traditional lightning rods that attempt to redirect a strike to the ground, the CMCE is engineered to prevent lightning formation altogether. It works by balancing the electrical field and deionizing the surrounding atmosphere, effectively eliminating the conditions necessary for lightning to form. In doing so, the CMCE creates an invisible shield—like a protective dome—over the covered area, ensuring that lightning simply cannot develop or strike within its coverage area. Prevention Over Reaction: The Benefits of CMCE This proactive and preventative approach aligns with Olympus Property’s dedication to forward-thinking solutions and resident safety. By installing the CMCE-120 and CMCE-55 Lightning Suppressors , Olympus Harbour Island has eliminated its exposure to lightning threats, ensuring uninterrupted comfort for residents and safeguarding the property’s critical infrastructure. Choose Innovation You Can Trust Are you interested in protecting your structure from lightning strikes with CMCE Lightning Suppression ? Contact our team today at cmcesales@capitolelectronics.com or call (888) 318-2333 to request a quote.