Lightning as we know it on terra-ferma uses the conduit from a water bearing cloud to the Earth.

 

On another planet where clouds are composed of Methane (as an illustration), :-

 

a) Does lightning occur ?

 

b) Does it have analogous properties ?

Plasma channel. No reason why it couldn't. Methane may combust depending on the o2 levels.

Sprites and jets are interesting

 

Thunderstorms fill the sky with lights above as well as beneath the clouds.

These transient luminous events or TLEs are similar to lightning. Just as the solid earth conducts electricity and attracts lightning, so does the ionosphere, the layer above the stratosphere.http://geology.about.com/od/sprites/a/sprites.htm

They are thought to exist on other planets

 

theoretical calculations of sprites above lightning discharges in the Co2 atmosphere of Venus, N2 astmosphere of Titan, H2-He of Jupiter chrome-extension://oemmndcbldboiebfnladdacbdfmadadm/http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/0812/0812.0258.pdf

 

sprites in Earths Atmosphere

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Plasma channel. No reason why it couldn't. Methane may combust depending on the o2 levels.

 

The Earth - Sky combination acts as a giant capacitor with air forming the dielectric. Can this be replicated on Venus or Mars (some sort of ion trap) ?

 

The Earth - Sky combination acts as a giant capacitor with air forming the dielectric. Can this be replicated on Venus or Mars (some sort of ion trap) ?

 

Lightning occurs naturally on both.

 

http://www.space.com/7102-lightning-detected-mars.html

http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/venus-20071128.html