Russian media pays attention: China has tested a giant airship power station for high-altitude wind energy collection!

On September 25, Russian media published an article.

A self-developed airship-type wind power generation device in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Hami City, successfully made its first flight.

The device underwent rigorous testing, including full assembly in desert environments and deployment and recovery under strong wind conditions.

The S1500 system resembles a Zeppelin airship, with commercial megawatt-level power generation capabilities, capable of collecting energy at high altitudes.

It is 60 meters long, 40 meters wide, and 40 meters high.

According to Beijing SAWES Energy Technology Co., Ltd., the developer, this is the largest floating wind turbine in the world so far.

The main wing and ring wing of the S1500 together form a large channel, which is equipped with 12 turbine generators each with a single capacity of 100 kilowatts. Utilizing stable high-altitude air currents, the rotor converts wind energy into electricity, which is then reliably transmitted to the ground through cables.

Differing from traditional ground turbines, the aerial wind power system does not require massive towers or deep foundations, reducing material usage by 40% and lowering power generation costs by 30%.

The entire unit can be transported within hours, making it especially suitable for deploying renewable energy facilities in deserts, islands, and mountainous areas.

This airship was developed in collaboration with Chinese institutions such as SAWES, Tsinghua University, and the Academy of Air Space Information, Chinese Academy of Sciences (AIR).

The expert team overcame core technical challenges such as maintaining the stability of the airship, developing ultra-lightweight generators, and laying kilometer-scale high-voltage power cables.

In October 2024, the helium-filled S500 airship was lifted to an altitude of 500 meters above the ground in Hubei Province, Central China, generating over 50 kilowatts of power.

Three months later, the S1000 model climbed to 1,000 meters in height, doubling the output power to 100 kilowatts.

Wen Hank, Chief Technical Officer of SAWES, said that this aerial platform is designed for disaster relief, rapid mapping, and urban security, and can be quickly deployed after earthquakes or floods to provide power support for lighting, radios, and rescue equipment.

Wind energy flowing continuously in the Earth's atmosphere at heights between 500 and 10,000 meters is one of the last few large-scale energy sources yet to be developed on Earth - it is abundant in reserves, widely distributed, and completely carbon-free.

These winds are stronger and more stable, often several times faster than surface winds.

Because the power of the turbine is proportional to the cube of the wind speed, the sky contains a huge and unused energy reservoir.

"When the wind speed doubles, the energy it carries increases eightfold; if the wind speed triples, the energy increases twenty-sevenfold,"

The development prospects for airborne wind energy generation are extremely promising, especially for remote and inaccessible areas.

After successfully passing tests in 2024-2025, this technology may significantly expand the application scope of renewable energy in the future.

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1844196983311691/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author.