The Chinese company Beijing SAWES Energy Technology Company has announced a new phase of testing for its unique wind power station. This hybrid of an airship and a wind generator, filled with helium, is capable of rising to a height of 1,500 meters. At that altitude, wind speeds are three times higher than on the ground, allowing for more efficient and stable energy production.
This innovative platform could provide a solution for powering remote areas, such as islands or industrial sites, as well as disaster zones.
For safety, the “sky” turbine is equipped with a network of ground-based radars and onboard sensors that automatically stop the generator during strong gusts of wind. The developers note that winds are more stable at high altitudes, and a special helium containment technology allows the apparatus to remain in the air for up to 25 years without needing to be refilled.
The company has already conducted successful tests at heights of 500 and 1,000 meters. The next goal is to reach stratospheric winds at an altitude of about 10,000 meters, where air currents are 200 times more powerful than on the ground. According to the engineers, mass production of these installations would make them competitive with traditional energy sources.
SAWES is currently preparing its S1500 platform for flight, which will be able to lift a 1-megawatt turbine to a height of 1,500 meters. Contracts worth over $70 million have already been signed.
For comparison, the most powerful similar project in the U.S. was only able to lift a 30-kilowatt turbine to a height of 297 meters. The Chinese project is considered a genuine technological breakthrough in the field of renewable energy.
