China Prepares for Megawatt Airship Wind Turbine Flight Test
- tech360.tv
- Oct 3
- 2 min read
China is preparing for the flight test of an airborne power generation system, which resembles an airship and functions as a turbine. This system is projected as the world’s first megawatt-level floating turbine, designed to supply power to remote locations.
Chief Technology Officer Weng Hanke of Beijing SAWES Energy Technology Company announced the one-megawatt system’s test flight earlier this month. This technology offers a solution for energy generation in areas challenging to reach through conventional means.
The new system, named S1500, boasts a 1 MW energy generation capacity. Weng stated its output is equivalent to a traditional 328-foot (100-meter) wind turbine.
The S1500 aims to harness high-speed, steady winds at altitudes of 1,500 metres above ground. This significantly increases efficiency compared to conventional turbines, which typically tap wind for energy just 656 feet (200 meters) above ground.
Weng noted that wind flows approximately three times faster at 1,500 metres than on land, potentially increasing power output by about 27 times. Helium assists the airship-like turbine in reaching optimal heights and carrying power generation equipment.
Wind energy is converted into electricity in the sky and then transmitted to the ground via a cable. The S1500 system features 12 micro-generators made of carbon fibre, centrally located within its duct, which can operate simultaneously.
The entire weight of one S1500 system is less than 1 metric tonne. SAWES developed this floating turbine in collaboration with Tsinghua University and the Aerospace Information Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
This is not SAWES' first venture into floating wind turbines. In Oct. 2024, the company flew the S500 buoyant airborne turbine, which reached 1,640 feet (500 meters) above ground and generated over 50 kW of power.
The company claimed the S500 broke records for maximum flying time and power generated for such a system. Weng suggested these systems could provide power for emergency rescue, surveys, and other immediate energy needs at various sites.
In Jan. 2025, the company flew the more powerful S1000 system, which achieved an altitude of 3,280 feet (1,000 meters) with a power output of 100 kW. For the S1500, advanced safety measures, such as stopping gas release from the aerostat, have been implemented.
These measures could enable the floating system to remain operational for over 25 years. Founder and Chief Executive Officer Dun Tianrui of SAWES previously stated the company's goal is to take the floating wind turbine system to 32,808 feet (10,000 meters).
At 10,000 metres, wind flow is up to 200 times stronger than on the ground, which could lead to significantly higher power outputs.
China is preparing to test the S1500, a megawatt-level airborne power generation system.
The S1500 airship-like turbine generates 1 MW of power, equivalent to a traditional 328-foot (100-meter) wind turbine.
It is designed to operate at 1,500 metres altitude, harnessing faster winds for increased efficiency.
Source: INTERESTING ENGINEERING
