Chinese Company Tests 'Power Bank In Sky' High-Altitude Wind System

_{On Oct 11, 2024, the S500 Stratosphere Airborne Wind Energy System (SAWES) ascended to an altitude of 500 meters and generated electricity in the Zhanghe area in Hubei's Jingmen city. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]}

A Chinese energy company recently conducted a successful test of its latest megawatt-capacity high-altitude wind power system, the first to be designed for urban use. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning praised the invention as a "power bank in the sky" on her social media on Sunday.

This kite-like power generation system, named S2000 Stratosphere Airborne Wind Energy System (SAWES), was developed by Beijing Linyi Yunchuan Energy Technology. It is an airborne wind power system that uses a helium-filled blimp-shaped balloon to elevate lightweight generators to harness high-altitude winds and transmit electricity to the ground via tether cables.

On Saturday, the balloon ascended to an altitude of 2,000 meters and generated enough electricity to reliably supply power to 1,500 households, thus opening new avenues for green energy development and commercialization.

According to China Central Television, the invention expands the potential applications of new energy technologies and serves as a primary power source for regions facing electricity shortages, such as remote islands.

The test of this latest model from Linyi Yunchan comes after two previous models. In September of last year, the S1500 SAWES first took flight at the Naomaohu base in Hami, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. In October of 2024, the S500 SAWES reached an altitude of 500 meters and generated electricity over the Zhanghe area in Jingmen, Hubei province.

SAWES is engineered to function in adverse weather conditions, making it suitable for emergency rescue, smart mapping, and urban security. In the aftermath of natural disasters, it can quickly provide power for lighting and communication, experts noted in a report by Hubei Daily.

By Liu Kun in Wuhan and Guo Yanqi | chinadaily.com.cn