That thing in the sky… is that a plane? A spinning bird? Our Lady? No… It’s “just” an energy-generating airship with 20,000 cubic meters, floating 2,000 meters above the ground.
Last month, Linyi Yunchuan Energy Technology announced Linyi Yunchuan Energy Technology’s new stratospheric aerial wind power system, called S2000 (SAWES).
And the first megawatt-level aerial wind energy system in the world and recently completed a test flight, successfully generating electricity from high-altitude winds without the need for towers or substantial ground infrastructure.
The responsible company believes that its successful test flight, which took place last month in Yibin, southwest China, represents a significant advancement in high-altitude wind energy technology and wind-based energy production.
But, after all, what system is this that reminds us of a UFO?
As detailed by , the S2000 SAWES is an integrated configuration that incorporates power generation equipment into an airship. The system, which measures 60 × 40 × 40 meters in length, width and height, respectively, features an inflatable aerostat, filled with helium, involving 12 turbines.
When the airship is inflated, it rises to a predetermined height, where it is held in place by a tether cable.
The world’s first MW-class S2000 Stratosphere Airborne Wind Energy System (SAWES) for urban use has successfully completed a test flight in Yibin, southwest China’s Sichuan Province. During the test, the system ascended to an altitude of 2,000 meters, generating and feeding 385…
— People’s Daily, China (@PDChina)
Thanks to its lightweight design, the entire system does not require energy to lift; rises and floats freely without propulsion. When it’s in the air, turbines convert high-altitude winds into electrical energy and send the electricity back to the ground through the mooring cable.
The S2000 SAWES can be considered a breakthrough in high-altitude aerial power generation systems. The test flight marked the system’s transition from experimental validation to engineering-scale application.
“At your current level of production, one hour of operation can generate Enough electricity to fully charge approximately 30 high-end electric vehicles from zero to full,” said Dun Tianrui, CEO of Linyi Yunchuan Energy Technologycited by New Atlas.
The future of sustainability
At 2,000 meters above the ground, the S2000 SAWES hovers 1,000 meters above the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. This eliminates concerns about obstructing skylines, allowing the system to be installed above populated cities. The S2000’s floating height also provides access to very reliable, strong and constant winds.
Another fundamental differentiating element of the S2000 is its ease of installation. Unlike traditional wind turbines, which require heavy foundations, cranes and months of civil works, the entire S2000 system can be transported in standard containers.
According to the developer, installation, from site preparation to filling and lifting, can take eight to nine hours, or potentially four to five hours where lifting gas is available locally.
This rapid ability to install and collect enables uses that conventional wind infrastructure cannot provide. These include remote locations, temporary installations, disaster support and emergency power generation.
