A lightning protection device for reducing exposure of an object to be
protected from conventional and upward lightning strikes. The device
includes a support structure adapted to be grounded and space charge
producing conductors wound around the support structure and forming coils
for producing space charge of opposite polarity to a cloud charge, in a
proximity of the object to be protected. The space charge induces a
charge on the object to be protected of an opposite polarity to a charge
induced on the object to be protected by the cloud charge and inhibits a
formation of streamers from the object to be protected. Each space charge
producing conductor has a diameter not exceeding 0.1 mm for reducing a
corona inception voltage of the support structure upon which each space
charge producing conductor is wound, in both dry and wet conditions.