Airborne wind turbine with 1-megawatt output set for testing in China
A team of Chinese scientists is preparing to test the world's first megawatt-level airborne wind turbine — the S1500. This structure is designed to generate power for remote locations and locations where the electrical infrastructure has been destroyed in by a disaster. This is a product of a collaboration between 3 Chinese organizations: Beijing SAWES Energy Technology Company, Tsinghua University, and Chinese Academy of Sciences.
This power-generating airship is designed to reach altitudes of up to 1,500 meters, to leverage winds that are stronger and more consistent than those available to ground-based turbines. The SAWES Chief Technology Officer, Weng Hanke, said wind speeds at that height are about 3 times faster than what you get at the ground level. This means the output of a windmill operating at that height will be theoretically 27 times greater than a system operating on the ground.
The S1500 is the third iteration, following a series of successful smaller-scale tests. In October 2024, the S500 system reached an altitude of 500 meters and produced over 50 kW of power. This was followed by the S1000 system, which operated at an altitude of 1,000 meters, delivering about 100 kW of power.
The upcoming S1500 represents a big jump in the development of the technology, not just because of the targeted energy output, but also due to its touted durability. It is claimed to be capable of operating for more than 25 years.
Buy the EcoFlow Delta 2 Portable Power Station on Amazon for $479.
Source(s)
