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Wind energy is taking off all over again. This time, literally.

In China, a multi-institute research and development projecthas created a series of large-scale floating turbine prototypes. The helium-filled aerostats, which send electricity to the ground via a tether cable, can float thousands of feet in the air and have been proposed as a portable, low-impact alternative to conventional wind turbines.

The initiative is spearheaded by Tsinghua University, Beijing, in collaboration with startup Beijing SAWES Energy Technology Co., Ltd. Called Stratospheric Airborne Wind Energy Systems (SAWES), the first prototypedebuted in October 2024, and since then, models have increased in size and altitude. The latest model, the SAWES Type S2000, is the first megawatt-class airborne wind power generation system, claims the enterprise, which also goes by the name The SAWES Company.

The S2000 completed a test in January in Yibin, Sichuan Province, floating at 2,000 meters (6,600 feet) and successfully connected to the power grid in a first for the company. During the test the turbine generated 385 kilowatt hours of electricity — enough to powerthe average US homefor roughly 13 days.

The S2000 measures 60 meters (197 feet) long and 40 meters (131 feet) high and wide, featuring 12 turbines with a totalpower capacity of 3 megawatts, said The SAWES Company. In comparison, the world’s most powerful wind turbine, manufactured by Chinese company Dongfang Electric Corporation, is 340 meters (1,115 feet) high per reports, and boasts a26-megawatt capacity.

Jianxiao Wang, research associate professor of big data at Peking University, who was involved in the project, said SAWES has multiple environmental advantages over conventional turbines.

“We use up to 90% less material than traditional wind turbines, we do not need massive concrete foundations, or a steel tower (or) disrupt the soil ecosystem,” he said.

“It has very small visual and sonic impact … it is basically silent at ground level and creates a much smaller visual obstruction on the horizon.”

Professor Wang also argued the aerial turbines were easier for birds to avoid compared to traditional wind farms. (Studies estimate wind turbines kill between140,000 to 679,000 birds a year in the US— notable, though much less than the number killed by power lines, estimated in the tens of millions, and much, much less than the number killed by cats, which could be as high as 4 billion,according to one data review.)

Source: Drudge Report