Test completed on Chinese-developed wind power system

A Chinese-developed airborne wind power system has completed a full-cycle test at an altitude of 4,000 meters, marking a step toward the engineering application of high-altitude wind power technology, Beijing Daily reported on Wednesday.

The S4000 Stratosphere Airborne Wind Energy System, or (SAWES), was tested recently at a site in northwestern China. It was developed by Beijing Linyi Yunchuan Energy Technology in partnership with Tsinghua University and the Aerospace Information Research Institute under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Unlike conventional wind turbines anchored to the ground, the system uses a helium-filled airborne platform to carry lightweight generators to high altitudes, where stronger winds are harnessed to generate electricity. The power is then transmitted to the ground through a tether cable.

One potential advantage is longer effective use of wind resources. Conventional onshore wind power typically records 2,000 to 3,000 utilization hours a year, while studies estimate that the theoretical figure at around 4,000 meters could reach 5,000 to 6,000 hours. The S4000 is expected to undergo long-duration high-altitude tests to assess that potential.

Measuring 67 meters long, 40 meters wide and 23 meters high, the S4000 can carry a payload of more than 1 metric ton and deliver output voltage ranging from 10 to 35 kilovolts.

The S4000 follows earlier S500, S1500 and S2000 models. Compared with the S2000, which reached 2,000 meters in January, the new system uses a redesigned structure and upgrades its operating altitude, generating capacity and modular integration.

Further tests will focus on long-term power generation at high altitudes, with the resulting data also supporting the development of the larger S6000-5MW system.